Palliative care in focus at coming Bellarine Community Health event

SPECIALIST health service provider Bellarine Community Health (BCH) will next week host an information session about the palliative care supports available to the local community.

These clinical, psychological and spiritual supports aim to enrich the final moments, weeks and days of someone’s life.

All are welcome to the information session, which will take place at the BCH Ageing Well Hub in Drysdale on Thursday, May 29 at 10am.

The event follows Palliative Care Week, held between May 11 and May 17, during which BCH challenged the community to begin a conversation about death, think about the future and consider how they want to be cared for.

At any one time, BCH provides care and support up to 70 people with a life-limiting illness in their own homes, working closely with GPs, counsellors and other specialists to regularly assess and adapt to the needs of these individuals.

Since the introduction of voluntary assisted dying (VAD) in Victoria in 2019, the health service has also supported several clients with a VAD permit to bring about their death at a time they chose.

BCH executive director of adult and aged services Karen Laing said supporting someone to receive care and die in their preferred place required good communication, access to information, relevant services and equipment.

“Consideration of the care setting, family and carer’s needs and whether the clinical needs of the person can be met, all inform the work done by out specialist palliative care team.

“We are incredibly proud to say that BCH supports more than two thirds of clients to die in their preferred place, with nearly 55 per cent dying in their own homes.

“This figure is significantly higher than the Australian average of 15 per cent and shows the growing need in our community for palliative care support.”

BCH also partners with volunteer-led, not-for-profit organisation Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine to run a bereavement group that offers a coffee catch up and walking group each month.

The group aims to support those who have lost a loved one by providing a safe environment where they can discuss their grief and develop connections to reduce loneliness.

The BCH Ageing Well Hub is at 23 Palmerston Street, Drysdale.

For support, or to talk to BCH about palliative care, phone 1800 007 224.