Hospice newsletter april2014 by John Farnell

NEWSLETTER // MAY 2014

CARING FOR PEOPLE, NOT PATIENTS Dr James Jap – Palliative Care Specialist

Modern medicine is generally focused on finding a cure, but what happens when you can’t fix someone? Totara Hospice Palliative Care Specialist Dr James Jap believes his speciality has the answer. “We’re the last bastion of health care for patients. When there’s nothing else that can be done, we can always offer something. We can help out.” He says his aim is to reduce anxiety and stress by giving patients more control over their care, in a comfortable and supportive atmosphere.

A NOTE FROM ALAN BEAL - CHIEF EXECUTIV

such a fantastic What an amazing day the Sunrise Walk was, and who braved those of all to s Thank all! it say s turnout – the photo are what way the along fun and s laugh of lot ing morn the early shone through. events coming I’m excited to share the fantastic campaigns and year Totara This May. this h Mont ness Aware up for Hospice ry of your memo Hospice would like to invite you to honour the purchase can You aign. Camp loved ones with the Light Up a Life the during ds groun our of trees the in a light that will shine their light g shinin of act the that hope our is It May. of month ry, and will will serve as a way to honour and cherish this memo them. allow us to feel close to And we have our all important Hospice Awareness Street Appeal 15th – 18th May – where we see so many of our lovely volunteers helping raise awareness and funds in our community. Have a look at the last page to update your Calendar with all the events and campaigns for May and 2014 for Totara Hospice.

“This is not about fixing people. We can’t, but there are still ways to make a difference,” Dr Jap says, “and it’s a satisfying difference to make.” Along with the Totara Hospice Palliative Care Team, Dr Jap works to provide the best quality of life possible, which means catering to the patient’s emotional and spiritual needs, not just the physical.

As always thanks for your ongoing support.

“It’s what makes up a whole person and we try to cover all of that with each interaction. That’s a more satisfactory way of dealing with patients – they are people, not just a disease.” Dr Jap says that palliative care’s holistic approach extends to the families too. “What the patient is going through also affects the family.” “It’s important stuff: getting people through difficult times and supporting them through the end-of-life turmoil that can occur,” he says. With no hope of miraculous cures or high-tech fixes, Dr Jap says he feels most successful when he can reveal the real person underneath

Alan

the symptoms. “You feel like you’ve won when you can bring out the real person with the interventions that we do – allow the real person to shine out, not suppressed by the burden of their symptoms. It’s like shining a light through the shadow of their suffering.” A growing concern for Dr Jap is New Zealand’s aging population, which will create greater demand for palliative care. “We’re going to need more people to help us. There’s no way we can do it on our own, we need more GPs, more nurses who will put their hands up and join our team, for our community and the population in general.” During their training most healthcare professionals have limited exposure to palliative care. Dr Jap and the team offer local GP’s, nurses and GP registrars a chance to come and experience working in a Hospice setting. “It’s a call to arms – there’s a problem on the horizon - or right now in fact. We need more people interested and involved in providing palliative care.”

Totara Hospice Medical Team – L to R: Dr Sergio Battistessa, Dr Willie Landman, Dr James Jap and Dr Oleg Kiriaev

The fifth annual Sunrise Walk for Hospice was yet again a huge success for Totara Hospice - over $90,000 raised for Hospice - and still counting! A heartfelt thank you to all who joined us on the morning – the Creo Fitness team hosted an amazing warm up for everyone, and then the inaugural Team Relay runners were sent off! Followed by over 1400 people who turned out for a stunning Summer morning and enjoyed a 5km walk around the Botanic Gardens. Rainbow Colours were everywhere with individuals, families and teams all helping to support Totara Hospice – and many walking in memory of their loved ones. A special mention to Stacey Morrison our Sunrise Walk Ambassador for joining us yet again, and a huge thank you to our event partners for once again getting behind Sunrise Walk and helping us host such an amazing event!

KATY HASTINGS

A caring, friendly woman, Katy Hastings has been volunteering at Totara Hospice for a little over 16 months. We caught up with her one rainy afternoon to talk about her experiences volunteering at The Hospice. How did you get involved with Totara Hospice?

I knew about the work hospices do from when I was working as an administrator in the medical industry. A little while ago I retired and after taking a much needed break, I started to look around for something to do. I came across an ad for volunteers for the Remembrance Trees Appeal and my husband and I went along and helped out with that. And you know what? It was fantastic fun, we had a really great time.

What happened next?

I went along to the Christmas Party and met this young woman - Katy – same name and all! She told me all about volunteering at the inpatient unit and I thought to myself “I could do that.” So I signed up in January of 2013 and here I am!

What do you like about working with Totara Hospice?

For a start, I consider myself to be lucky to be at Totara Hospice, the grounds and building are just beautiful, such lovely surroundings. And the staff are so friendly, everyone is on the same page and they are so appreciative of what we volunteers do, it is very humbling. They make you feel so special because of the work you’re doing. You get thanked all the time, even when you don’t think you need to be thanked! It’s amazing really because the more they praise and thank you the more you want to do.

So you’re going to keep volunteering?

Oh yes, I do it once a fortnight so I don’t get exhausted by it, I get time to recover and it stays fresh and interesting. I get such real pleasure out of giving to the hospice community.

So what else do you do in your spare time?

Well I look after and spend time with my family mostly, I do a lot of baking and I like to go into town and meet up with my friends. When you work your life is very timetabled, I am really enjoying the freedom of not being structured.

I’m sure you have a bunch of stories volunteering at Totara!

At Totara Hospice they have beautiful china tea sets that have been donated and I love to get them out and serve the afternoon tea for the patients. There was this lovely older lady who was staying there with her husband and when I served her the tea she said “I’ve never been to the Ritz but this must be what it’s like there”! It is lovely to be able to spoil people when they are at Hospice and having trying times in their lives. If you are interested in volunteering alongside Katy Hasting we have many opportunities available, your help is invaluable for us to continue providing our services to the community. Please contact Katy Paterson on (09) 640 0280 or email katy.paterson@hospice.co.nz.

TOTARA TALK - TOTARA HOSPICE NEWSLETTER // MAY 2014

A NEW ADDITION TO THE TEAM: EMMA LYDON, PHARMACIST. The recent addition of a pharmacist to the palliative care team at Totara Hospice is a welcome adjunct to the provision of clinical care. “The use of medicines is a big component of our care for patients” Jessie Mravicich Director of Nursing comments “and having Emma as part of our team enables us to enhance our medicines management by providing the medical and nursing teams with specialist pharmacological expertise.” Emma Lyndon knows from personal experience how important palliative care is to patients and their families. She deeply understands the distress people can go through after a family member was administered the wrong medication. In bringing her skills as a pharmacist to Totara Hospice she sees an opportunity to empower the patients and their families and to provide a unique service. Emma will be working with the Clinical team in assessing each case and helping patients in every way they can. She says palliative care cases are very complex and it is an ongoing process with each patient. “For example you can alleviate the pain but then there may be drowsiness,” Emma says, “so it is a challenge to manage this, but when you get it right it can be very rewarding.” Emma loves working at Totara Hospice, she says it is difficult to find a place where everyone is always going the extra mile for the patients. “We’re all on the same page, it’s all about the outcomes for the patients and their families.”

Light up a life

During May the trees of Totara Hospice will be adorned with thousands of sparkling lights - each one shining in honour of someone special who is in your thoughts.

$10 A LIGHT It is a way to remember your own heroes, the people close to you, who have lit up countless lives while they were alive and so deserve to be remembered. Supporting Hospice Awareness Month. To sponsor a light to have shining for your loved one simply visit www.hospice.co.nz or phone Nicole on (09) 640 0250. Nursing Management Team – L to R: Robyn Allen, Jessie Mravicich and Colleen Ranford

NOTIFICATION OF SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS • TOTARA HOSPICE SOUTH AUCKLAND • THE TOTARA FOUNDATION Friends of Hospice members are advised that Special General Meetings to ratify changes to the Constitutions and Rules of both Charitable Trusts are to be held at Totara House at 7.00pm on Thursday 15 May 2014. Full details of the changes can be obtained from Mrs Lynette Farrelly Phone: 09 640 0257 or by e-mail: lynette.farrelly@hospice.co.nz

T WISH LIS s for the Trade Table

• Jams, Chutneys and item tions • The team in the IPU would love dona have to ng hopi are they of Candles and also e nice som with Boys Lazy the g help recoverin cs fabri t brigh are • Stick Blenders for the kitchen as they too long last t don’ n ofte and ly tant cons used er! • Day Hospice would love a 3 step ladd hers vouc • Briscoes and Bed Bath & Beyond use for housekeeping to with the • We are looking for a donor to help to loan to us for purchase of a portable ramp s at home ultie diffic ss acce patients who have

TOTARA TALK - TOTARA HOSPICE NEWSLETTER // MAY 2014

nda If you can help us please contact Meli . melinda.seal@hospice.co.nz or 640 0208

UPCOMING EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS - SAVE THE DATES LIGHT UP A LIFE

MID WINTER APPEAL

DURING THE MONTH OF MAY TOTARA HOSPICE $10 PER LIGHT

14TH – 17TH AUGUST 2014 SUPERMARKETS AND MALLS COLLECTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Sponsor a light for a loved one, visit www.hospice.co.nz Nicole Pemberton, Ph: 09 640 0250 nicole.pemberton@hospice.co.nz

Leah Tonks, Ph: 09 640 0266 leah.tonks@hospice.co.nz

HOSPICE AWARENESS STREET APPEAL

WINE MAKERS LUNCH

THURSDAY 15TH MAY – SUNDAY 18TH MAY 2014 SUPERMARKETS AND MALLS COLLECTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST 2014 11AM TO 3PM, ALEXANDER PARK TICKETS $99.00 Warwick Lewis, Ph: 09 575 7360 warwicklewis@xtra.co.nz

Leah Tonks, Ph: 09 640 0266 leah.tonks@hospice.co.nz

LIGHT UP A LIFE CEREMONY

LONG LUNCH FOR HOSPICE

MONDAY 26TH MAY, 6.45AM TOTARA HOSPICE CAR PARK ST KENTIGERN COLLEGE KENTORIS CHOIR

FLAVOURS OF THE PACIFIC SUNDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2014 VENUE TO BE CONFIRMED TICKETS $125.00

Melinda Seal, Ph: 09 640 0208 melinda.seal@hospice.co.nz

www.hospice.co.nz/longlunch Nicole Pemberton, Ph: 09 640 0250 nicole.pemberton@hospice.co.nz

BIO FUEL LOGS TO SUPPORT TOTARA HOSPICE

SAILING REGATTA FOR HOSPICE

PICK UP FROM TOTARA HOSPICE, 140 CHARLES PREVOST DRIVE MANUREWA, 10AM-4PM $6 a pack (six logs) - $3 from every pack sold will be donated to Totara Hospice www.hospice.co.nz Ph: 09 640 0025 reception@hospice.co.nz

NOVEMBER 2014 DATE TO BE CONFIRMED BUCKLAND’S BEACH YACHT CLUB Melinda Seal, Ph: 09 640 0208 melinda.seal@hospice.co.nz

HOSPICE CUPPA

REMEMBRANCE TREES 2014

ALL YEAR AROUND HOST A CUPPA AND SUPPORT HOSPICE

WEDNESDAY 3RD – WEDNESDAY 24TH DECEMBER 2014 SUPERMARKETS AND MALLS COLLECTION VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

www.hospicecuppa.co.nz Nicole Pemberton, Ph: 09 640 0250 nicole.pemberton@hospice.co.nz

PURCHASE YOUR 2014/2015 ENTERTAINMENT BOOK PICK UP FROM TOTARA HOSPICE BOOKS $65.00 EACH 20% of every book sold contributes to Totara Hospice Fundraising.

Leah Tonks, Ph: 09 640 0266 leah.tonks@hospice.co.nz

HOSPICE ANGEL PROJECT CREATE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING EVENT AND BECOME A HOSPICE ANGEL www.hospiceangel.co.nz Katherine Trotter, Ph: 640 0255 katherine.trotter@hospice.co.nz

www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/97662m Katherine Trotter, Ph: 09 640 0255 katherine.trotter@hospice.co.nz