National Palliative Care Week 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought into focus the importance of timely and effective palliative and end-of-life care.
This week, 24 May to 30 May 2020, is National Palliative Care Week, with the theme, ‘It’s more than you think.’ This year we are encouraged to focus on celebrating those who work and volunteer in palliative care across Australia.
Besides considering a person’s physical, emotional, spiritual and social needs at end of life, palliative care can also assist people with life-limiting illnesses to live as well as possible for as long as possible.
‘It’s all about starting the conversation about palliative care, and its benefits to those in the Resthaven community and their families’, says Peter Jenkin, Resthaven Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner.
‘There is a need to prioritise the needs of older Australians who are living longer, often with chronic life-limiting illnesses. Yet there remain shortcomings in delivering timely and appropriate palliative care as they approach the end of their lives.
‘All staff and volunteers at Resthaven make an amazing contribution to the lives of people in the end of life setting, as well as being a great support to their family and friends. Being a change agent in palliative care at Resthaven is my primary goal.
‘The professional relationships we enter into with the people we care for and their families provides just as much motivation and inspiration to me. I’d suggest it’s what drives many of us to continue to work to increase the recognition that palliative care is everyone’s business.’
‘I can’t emphasise enough the importance of planning ahead, creating an Advance Care Directive and having those difficult conversations before it is too late.’
‘Resthaven actively encourages all residents to complete theirs.’
Celebrating 85 years in 2020, Resthaven Incorporated is a not for profit, South Australian aged care community service associated with the Uniting Church. Every day, Resthaven shares the lives and wisdom of around 10,000 older people and their carers, working together to provide outstanding care and support.
Resthaven works together with older people and their carers throughout metropolitan Adelaide, the Adelaide Hills, Murraylands, Fleurieu, Barossa, Riverland and Limestone Coast of South Australia.