The Central Australia Health Service supports National Palliative Care Week and this year’s theme of helping people with chronic illness to have a better quality of life.
“This week it the perfect time for you to start those difficult discussions with people you know and love, who have a chronic disease,” said Fred Miegel, Clinical Nurse Manager, Alice Springs Hospital Palliative Care Team.
“Even though their decline is slower, there is a need to think about things like what will happen when there comes a point where they no longer can make decisions?”
“It’s also really important that they talk to their family and friends about their wishes and what they want,” he said.
To help people with chronic illness the Alice Springs Hospital operates a Palliative Care Respite House day centre.
“The respite house is not just for palliative care patients, it’s also for people with chronic illness and is a safe place for people to sit down for the day in a nice homely atmosphere and have time out,” Mr. Miegel said.
“Family can have time out and the clients can have time out as well so from a palliative care point of view it has opened up a space for family to bring people for a day or for a few hours, whatever they need.”
The respite house has been open since 2013 and can accept up to six people a day, Monday to Friday, from 8am until 4:30pm.
“I would like to see people living in Central Australia who have family members and friends with chronic illness take time during Palliative Care Week to reflect on life, the situation of the person who is ill and start the conversation about what they want,” Mr. Miegel said.
“It does not need to be scary but it will be important to the person who is suffering.”
The Central Australia Health Service is governed by a Statutory Board and is responsible for the Alice Springs and Tennant Creek Hospitals. It has a primary role in health service delivery in the region, including primary health care, mental health, oral health, cancer screening services and alcohol and other drug services.
Media Contact: Gail Liston 8951 5111 or 0476 839 383