It’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day this week and the Central Australia Health Service is inviting the community to a celebration of life at the Palliative Care Facility at Alice Springs Hospital.

“We‘re inviting people to come along and learn more about palliative care and we are having a short interfaith remembrance service so that people can remember their own loved ones,” said Social Worker Robyn Linsdell from Territory Palliative Care.

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is a day to honour and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The theme this year is Palliative Care – Because I Matter.

“We have a very active Palliative Care Association NT in Central Australia and this group of dedicated individuals has done a lot of work with the Northern Territory Government to get the Palliative Care Facility opened earlier this year and they will be on hand to talk to people about palliative care and what it can mean to them and their families.

“This year is the centenary of Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement, so it is fitting that this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day theme draws its wording from her iconic quote: ‘You matter because you are you and you matter until the end of your life’,” Ms Linsdell said.

“Palliative care is really about quality of life and an important part of this is advanced personal planning about what your wishes might be at the end of your life – how you would like to be cared for; what’s important to you; what you really value at the end of your life.

“It is an important part of the day to actually recognise that we all will die at some point but we can do some preparation so it doesn’t have to be a mournful process – it can be a celebration of life,” Ms Linsdell said.

Please come and acknowledge the importance of Palliative Care on Friday 12 October, 2018 from 12–2.00 pm.

There will be music, a free BBQ lunch, Roaming Barista coffee caravan with coffee and cold drinks for sale, interfaith remembrance service, Palliative Care information, a smoking ceremony and a chance to look at the new Palliative Care Facility.

Media contact: Gail Turner – 0476 839 383