All of New Zealand's hospices come under Hospice New Zealand's
umbrella. They provide free palliative care to people living with
terminal illness regardless of ethnicity, religion or age, while
also supporting family/whanau and friends.
About 8000 new patients and their families receive help from
hospices each year and that number is rising every year - from 1999
to 2005 numbers jumped 41 percent.
Yet hospices are only partially Government funded and rely
heavily on community fundraising to cover their running costs.
The Buzz contribution will go to the national organisation -
Hospice New Zealand - to help fund its valuable work with the
country's hospices . The national office works to improve national
policies and resourcing that affect care, is actively involved in
education and workforce development, establishes standards of care,
provides information and advice to hospices and the public, and
supports and helps palliative care providers through co-operative
activities.
What is a hospice?
Hospice palliative care can be provided in hospice inpatient
units, hospital hospice wards or in a person's home or place of
residence in the community. Hospice is a concept, a philosophy of
care.
Hospice or palliative care is a special type of care for people
whose illness may no longer be curable. It enables them to achieve
the best possible quality of life during the final stages of their
illness. It includes family support and bereavement services.
Hospice services vary depending on the communities needs.
Services may include inpatient and community care, bereavement
care, counselling and spiritual care, day-stay care, respite care,
equipment hire and some provide education and research.
Services are provided by a multidisciplinary team which may
include doctors, nurses, counsellors, spiritual counsellors,
occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers and
volunteer co-ordinators.
To read more about Hospice New Zealand, visit www.hospice.org.nz