Help Anam Cara House double the care

ANAM Cara House Geelong is urging the community to support its coming “Double the Care” Giving Day, which aims to raise $750,000 to fund the opening of six more palliative care bedrooms at the Waurn Ponds facility.

Between 8am and 8pm on June 25, all donations will be quadrupled by generous donors who have already contributed $450,000 in

matched funds.

Anam Cara deputy chair Rob Threlfall said the community helped build the facility and the community would also ensure Anam Cara provided the care it was built to deliver.

“Our aim is to raise sufficient funds to ‘Double the Care’ – that is, taking our available bedrooms for guests from

six to 12.

“At Anam Cara, we hold the profound belief that our guests are not merely patients but cherished members of our extended family and community. To continue to deliver an exemplary level of care and expand our capacity, we need your support.

“Anam Cara first opened its bedroom-based services in February of this year and currently our overnight and end of life services are available to community members with private health insurance and those who are self-funded.

“Contributions from our community will make a tangible difference in the lives of those facing life-limiting illness and by supporting Anam Cara, you help advance our objective that individuals and families in the Geelong community can receive the compassionate care and support they deserve and choose in their most vulnerable moments.”

Since February there have been six beds available at Anam Caras with an 81 per cent occupancy rate and an average stay of 14 days, demonstrating the need for the six extra beds.

Nursing director Vanessa McColl said Anam Cara’s exemplary medical and nursing model set it apart.

“Our unique model of care includes on-call palliative care physicians who are onsite seven days a week including public holidays, around-the-clock palliative nursing care as well as phone support.

“Our nursing ratios are generous and include one registered nurse to every four patients plus a senior nurse who coordinates every shift and has no patient load.

“Our ethos revolves around what matters most to our guests whether that be sharing a meal, enjoying music or simply quiet moments of reflection in our beautiful gardens.”

She said more than seven families had stayed overnight with guests, and two beds had been put together for a husband and wife.

“We prioritise the unique desires of each guest guiding them towards a dignified and peaceful end-of-life experience, supported by our spiritual care provider, something we call ‘a beautiful death”.

For more information, head to achg.org.au