Families gather to remember lost loved ones

MORE than 100 families gathered at Point Lonsdale Primary School’s Hall to remember loved ones lost due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The memorial, hosted two weeks ago by Bellarine Community Health (BCH) and its palliative care team, permitted 130 invited families an opportunity to light a candle and remember their loved ones in a group setting.

“It was so special to be able to reconnect with some of the families we have supported and share with them a moment of reflection about their loved ones,” BCH Nurse Sue Berry said.

Grief counsellor Tara McKinty, former BCH palliative care consultant Dr David Brumley and the Tides of Welcome Choir also attended the memorial, with support from Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine volunteers.

BCH’s Palliative Care team is as busy as it has ever been in terms of consultation numbers related to COVID-19.

The team is reportedly seeing more than double the number of patients compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Reductions in face-to-face consultations with specialists and general practitioners during the height of the pandemic coupled with fear and anxiety around going into hospital has also led to more demand for BCH community-based services.

“Palliative care isn’t just about end-of-life care,” Ms Berry said.

“It’s an approach that improves the quality of life for patients of all ages and their families, who are facing problems associated with life limiting illness.

“More and more people are wanting to die at home, and we are there to support them.”

BCH will aim to deliver the memorial service annually moving forward as a support tool for families that deal with the Palliative Care team directly.

The BCH Palliative Care team is currently made up of a nurse practitioner and two specialist community palliative care nurses, along with a newly appointed social worker/counsellor.