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“Having the Advanced Care Plan in place made it so much easier to talk to my family about my wishes.<\/p>\n
“I have come to a place of peace and acceptance.”<\/p>\n
National Palliative Care Week concluded last weekend and is held annually, highlighting what end-of-life health services are all about, and what people can do to prepare.<\/p>\n
In Ballarat, patients can receive palliative care in their own homes through Hospice, or in hospital at Grampian’s Health’s Gandarra unit at the Queen Elizabeth Centre, and St John of God.<\/p>\n
A statement from Ballarat Hospice Care said people are at the heart of what they all do.<\/p>\n
“It’s the patients, their carers, their families, the palliative care doctors, nurses, allied health, support workers and volunteers,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
Mr Chennell said patients referred to palliative care services in future should “go in with an open mind.”<\/p>\n
“Be prepared to be honest, as the workers are not mind readers and one visit will change your whole attitude,” he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AT the conclusion of National Palliative Care Week, a Ballarat Hospice Care patient has reflected on his experiences. Mike Chennell is receiving palliative care following treatment at the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre, and said the end-of-life journey is not what he expected. He said every palliative care worker in his home has helped him […]<\/p>\n