Talking about dying is the last taboo, but Australians need to break it to ensure they die well, and those closest to them know what their wishes are and what care they want, says Kittie Dwyer from the Parkes Palliative Care Volunteer Service.
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“It’s a tough conversation, and we do not shy away from the fact it is a sad talk to have, but it is necessary,” she said.
“Without knowing what our loved ones want we cannot advocate for it on their behalf.
“It means more people will live in the way they want until the end, with the help of palliative care.
“In Australia we prepare for births.
“We encourage families to have a birth plan and to prepare for the process of birth – but we ignore the other side of the birth coin, death.
“We know most Aussies (70 per cent) want to die at home, but one in two deaths occur in hospital.
“If we do not make our wishes known to those close to us, how will they know to ask for things such as home or community care?”
This National Palliative Care Week Australians are encouraged to discuss death and dying and their wishes for end of life.
“Everyone needs to be an advocate for palliative care,” Kittie said.
“It touches all of us at one point in our lives, as a carer or a patient or friend.
“It is an essential part of our health system.
“Palliative care is not just for those who are close to the end of their lives, but can be accessed from diagnosis to help people live well for as long as they can.
“Palliative care offers many things, including pain and symptom management, to give people as much time as possible as they live with their life limiting illness.
“Palliative care isn’t just for the individual but also supports those people like carers, friends and family, and takes care of the whole person.
“Early palliative care has been proven in some circumstances to add years to life as well as life to years for some cancer groups.
“While it is not the cure that everyone always hopes for, managing pain and psychosocial support for the very ill is very important.”
In Parkes and district the palliative care team includes a palliative care nurse, occupational therapist, community nurses, the general practitioner and palliative care physicians.
In June 2013 the team was expanded after a grant was successfully awarded from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) to include palliative care volunteers through a joint initiative between Neighbourhood Central (formerly Parkes Neighbourhood Centre) and the Parkes Community Health Service.
The volunteers were carefully selected and trained in palliative care to work closely with the palliative care team.
The volunteers are a group of men and women who provide a caring non-judgemental presence, while at the same time, bound by strong ethics and confidentiality.
The volunteers offer practical and emotional support to the individual, their relatives and friends.
National Palliative Care Week runs from May 24 to 30.
This National Palliative Care Week, some of the volunteers from the Parkes Palliative Care Volunteer Service will be attending a “Dying to Know” conference in Dubbo and a “Care and Compassion” conference in Wollongong to further enhance their knowledge and skills.
A promotion of the Parkes Palliative Care Volunteer Service will take place at Parkes Metroplaza (Woolworths) on Thursday June 4 and will encourage the community to talk about death and dying.
For more information about events coordinated by Neighbourhood Central please telephone 6862 3757.
