A family has gone ‘the extra mile’ to show its thanks to Kyneton District Health’s (KDH) palliative nursing staff who cared for their loved one.
Judy Buckmaster recently hosted a “feel good day” with her sister Sue Dixon, bringing friends together for a vibrant celebration of life through colour, fashion and wardrobe advice.
The fundraiser was their way to bring death into the open and acknowledge the palliative care given by KDH to their cousin Glen.
Last week the sisters presented the hospital with a cheque for $750 raised at the celebration, which coincided with August 8’s Dying to Know Day. The commemorative day fostered conversations and community activities around death, dying and bereavement.
KDH acute nurse manager Sue Whitfield said the hospital worked to promote conversations about death and end-of-life care, including advanced care planning. “These plans are about quality of life, finding a way to keep you at the centre of your care before you become too unwell and unable to communicate or make medical decisions,” she said.
Director of nursing Karen Laing said talking about death was an important part of life. “The conversations are not something that we have to avoid or be scared about,” she said.
Early access to palliative care can help people with a chronic illness to have a better quality of life, while providing support to carers.
The KDH team delivers palliative care across the Macedon Ranges and has a dedicated palliative care suite and respite beds, as well as a community nursing provider, ensuring what it calls seamless transitions for patients between home, hospital and respite care. More information: www.dyingtoknowday.org/ or call Kyneton District Health on 5422 9900
