caring for people, not patients

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.
E
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
Totara Hospice South Auckland | 140 Charles Prevost Drive | PO Box 75560 Manurewa, Auckland 2243
P 09 640 0025 | F 09 640 0291 | www.hospice.co.nz | [email protected]
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.
P2
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 [email protected].
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: [email protected]
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
.
[email protected] or 640 0208
P3
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
[email protected]
Leah Tonks, Ph: 09 640 0266
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
Leah Tonks, Ph: 09 640 0266
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
www.hospice.co.nz/longlunch
Nicole Pemberton, Ph: 09 640 0250
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
NOVEMBER 2014
DATE TO BE CONFIRMED
BUCKLAND’S BEACH YACHT CLUB
Melinda Seal, Ph: 09 640 0208
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
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
[email protected]
HOSPICE ANGEL PROJECT
CREATE YOUR OWN FUNDRAISING
EVENT AND BECOME A HOSPICE ANGEL
www.hospiceangel.co.nz
Katherine Trotter, Ph: 640 0255
[email protected]
www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/97662m
Katherine Trotter, Ph: 09 640 0255
[email protected]
P4
Totara Hospice South Auckland | 140 Charles Prevost Drive | PO Box 75560 Manurewa, Auckland 2243
P 09 640
0025
| F 09
640 0291
| www.hospice.co.nz
TOTARA
TALK
- TOTARA
HOSPICE
NEWSLETTER
// MAY 2014 | [email protected]