my mother was a very strong, smart and creative woman — jorja · my mother was a very strong,...
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1 MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND’S LIFETIMES
My mother was a very strong, smart and creative woman — Jorja
Shirley Bell with her daughter Jorja Loftin and grand-daughter Rima
Jorja Loftin’s mother died earlier this year. She refl ects on what it was like to experience her Mum’s journey living with a terminal illness.
When did your Mum become unwell? I was 25 when she was diagnosed with cancer a few days before Christmas in 2010
What was it like for you? Mum was sick for about six years. She hid it very well. She was still very active with tennis and bridge. A lot of times it was easy to forget how sick she really was. In the last six months, you could see a big change.
That was tough for all of us. We were so used to Mum being up for anything.
Were you pleased she visited people and places in the last six months before she died? Absolutely. Friends and family are so important. Even more so when you are going through something like cancer. She looked forward to all of her trips. They gave her hope. What did you and your mum do when she came over? We made memories. She spent a lot of time with her granddaughter. We visited playgrounds where they played on the see saws and swings together. We also talked about family and life in general.
Jorja’s story continues back page
NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2017
2 MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND’S LIFETIMES
Thank you
2 MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND’S LIFETIMES
Thank you! Your generous donation towards our August appeal raised $67,287. Your donation ensures patients not only receive medical hospice care, but the chance to treasure every moment until they die. We are so grateful to those who donated to our May appeal. Because of you, we could upgrade 13 bathrooms in our in-patient unit and make them more wheelchair friendly. Thank you!
Sometimes I ask myself, where has this year gone? Since my arrival in February, I have had the privilege of spending my time with our amazing team, learning, listening and understanding what makes Mercy Hospice so special. I’ve met so many of our patients and families and been inspired by their openness, honesty and generosity in sharing their stories.I’ve arrived at Mercy Hospice at a time where our community has an ever increasing need for care and our region is faced with the challenges inherent of growth of Auckland City.We have recognised the increasing need for reaching all those with a palliative care need and the challenges faced over the next 20 years.With the appointment of Dr Carol McAllum as Strategic Clinical Director, our integrated palliative care plan with ADHB and the initiatives to support them, we are building the infrastructure to allow Mercy Hospice to continue delivering world class care to our community.Over the next few months we will see some exciting new plans, tools for our clinicians, new fundraising and retail plans and support initiatives.But the most important plan is the one that was put in place when Mercy Hospice came into being.Our mission and the work our dedicated and caring team has shown to over 1000 people who need our palliative care each year.
Paul CouperCEO, Mercy Hospice
HELLO FROM PAUL
A big thank you to the following Charitable Trusts who have generously donated to Mercy Hospice:Ralph & Eve Seelye Charitable Trust – supporting our nurse training. Maurice Paykel Charitable Trust – contributing towards operating costs. Mt Wellington Foundation Ltd – contributing towards operating costs. Lion Foundation – contributing towards operating costs. Remuera Christians Trust – supporting our education training. ARA Lodge No 348 I.C Charitable Trust – contributing towards operating costs. Barbara T Lipanovich & Robert Ned Covich Charitable Trust – contributing towards patient care. Four Winds Foundation Ltd – funding for air mattresses for our in-patient unit. Hugo Charitable Trust – contributing towards hire of equipment. Blue Waters Community Trust – contributing towards pharmaceutical costs.
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2017 Fashion Week Ambassador Colin Mathura-
Jeffree with Ellerslie Shop Manager Emily Dearsly
& The Project TV Personality Jaquie Brown
Mercy Hospice Auckland hit NZ Fashion Week by storm thanks to TV personality and model Colin Mathura-Jeff ree.
The NZ Fashion Week Ambassador was dressed every day in hospice clothes for the event and he looked so stylish The Project TV personality Jaquie Brown wanted in on it.The stylists working hard behind the scene was our very own fashion savvy Ellerslie Shop Manager Emily Dearsly & Ponsonby Shop Manager Brenda Valentine.They dressed Colin in hospice clothes for his NZ Fashion Week appearances and Emily also dressed Jaquie for The Project. On The Project, which aired 1 September, 2017, Colin said he shops through opportunity stores because “that’s where the gems are. Whatever you don’t want, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Colin was also making a statement about sustainability. More than 150 billion garments are produced globally each year. It is estimated that the fashion industry is the second most polluting industry after oil.“If you have a throw away lifestyle, you have a throw away life. This is feel good fashion,” he said.Emily says dressing Colin and Jaquie was a “fabulous experience. Colin’s fl amboyant style made it fun to collect an array of smart menswear and couple it with interesting accessories and embellishments.”Emily says shoppers are becoming more socially and environmentally conscious. “[They] are proud to be purchasing second hand.”
NZ Fashion Week meets hospice sustainability
Colin looking dapper in hospice fashion.
4 MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND’S LIFETIMES
A scholarship from the University of Auckland funded a 10-week period of work for our medical student Sofi e Rose which began in November 2016. The medical literature was reviewed to examine the current international evidence for the management of delirium in palliative care.
What is delirium and what do some patients experience?Delirium or episodes of confused thinking, can occur quite commonly toward the end of life and can cause signifi cant distress for the individual and their families or friends. At times, the person may see or hear things that others cannot. They may dream vividly, become wakeful at night and at times very distressed and restless. We regard delirium as a symptom requiring urgent medical attention.
How did you carry out the review and how long did it take?Information was collected from all patients who were admitted with a delirium to the St Joseph’s Unit in a six month period. Data collected included age, gender, ethnicity and diagnosis. Risk factors for delirium were noted and the symptoms leading to a diagnosis of delirium were recorded. The medication charts were carefully examined for the dose and frequency of Haloperidol given and the clinical notes provided the
International interest in how delirium is managed with medications: Mercy Hospice conducts research
Inpatient Unit Palliative Care Specialist, Di Winstanley with University of Auckland student Sofi e Rose and
Palliative Care Specialist Marie Rose
reference for whether the medication had worked or not and if so in what way. The medical and nursing notes also provided for emerging themes to complement the quantitative data.
What did you discover?The incidence of delirium was in the order of 60% with most of these patients commencing haloperidol in the fi rst instance which was successful 65% of the time. The majority of patients with delirium were in the fi nal days of their lives and a small group of patients were able to return home. The doses of Haloperidol we used were in line with the published international medical literature.
Can patients and families choose to have Haloperidol?If a patient is signifi cantly distressed in their delirium or where their safety or other people’s safety is at risk, the attending Palliative Medicine doctor on duty and the nursing staff will administer Haloperidol as an emergency measure. Wherever possible the use of medications is discussed with the patient and their families.
How has the case series helped Mercy Hospice Auckland?There is currently international interest in how delirium is managed with medications, and this work marks the beginning of our own journey in collecting information about what we do, and how we might proceed in the future. We are in a good position at Mercy Hospice Auckland to provide insights into the use of Haloperidol and other medications in the management of delirium, and this study by Sofi e has provided us with how best to take our work forward.
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Dr Carol McAllum has been appointed as the new Strategic Clinical Director – Integrated Palliative Care following the formation of a partnership between Mercy Hospice Auckland and the Auckland District Health Board.
The two organisations work collaboratively to implement the ADHB Adult Palliative Care Strategy.The aim of this position is to develop and enhance the role and presence of specialist palliative care across the acute and community services in Auckland.Dr McAllum says this will fortify palliative care for all, as the bond between all health professionals and specialist palliative care professionals will be strengthened to meet the needs of people wherever they are - in hospital, residential care, and hospice or at home.“The most important aspect is ensuring that people receive timely and quality palliative care, and to do this, translating and bridging with clinical facilities and healthcare providers is part of maximising this potential,” says Dr McAllum.Mercy Hospice Auckland Chairman Denis Wood says Dr McAllum’s experience and vision for palliative care services are a close fi t for this new position. He says the collaborative specialist environment, supported by integrated systems, will enable the effective
Mercy Hospice Auckland and ADHB appoint Dr Carol McAllum as Strategic Clinical Director – Integrated Palliative Care
Denis Wood (Chairman, Mercy Hospice Auckland), Ailsa Claire (CEO, ADHB), Judith Catherwood (Director Community and Long Term Conditions Directorate, ADHB),
Dr Carol McAllum (Strategic Clinical Director) & Paul Couper (CEO Mercy Hospice Auckland)
delivery of palliative care across the Auckland district.“Hospice foresees a signifi cant increase in the number of people accessing its services over the next fi ve years due to an increasing aging population, and with Dr McAllum’s direction, the board of Mercy Hospice has confi dence in its partnership with ADHB to build an enduring and robust specialist palliative care service to meet the needs of our community over the next 20 years.”Dr McAllum’s appointment came into effect on 25 September, 2017.
About Dr Carol McAllum:Dr McAllum is a Fellow of the Australasian Chapter of Palliative Medicine, within the Royal Australasian College of Physician. Prior to her becoming a palliative medicine specialist she worked for 16 years as a general practitioner in Coromandel and Northland. Following her transition to specialist palliative care, she has worked in hospices and hospitals for the past 18 years, including Mercy Hospice Auckland, Cranford Hospice in Hawkes Bay and recently Waipuna Hospice in Tauranga. Her two previous positions both included roles as a member of the Hawkes Bay and Tauranga Hospital Palliative Care Team. She was also a founding member of the Palliative Care Council for seven years.
6 MERCY HOSPICE AUCKLAND’S LIFETIMES
Ed Jenner on being a valuable supporter of Mercy Hospice for many years, as a volunteer and as a donor.
How did you fi rst become involved with Mercy Hospice Auckland?It started way back to 1994. I had some experience in caregiving as I had looked after my good friend Reg when he was dying. So I approached Mercy Hospital who had started a home care programme and they employed me.It was then that I learnt about St Joseph’s Mercy Hospice which was upstairs, and as there were no staff to answer the phones over the weekends I volunteered to man the reception one weekend a month and helped with the drinks trolley.
Tell me about your time with Reg.I met Reg when I was 18 years old. He was my fi rst love. I knew he was not well and one day I received a call from his sister Joan. The doctors had given Reg three days to live and he was asking for me. I rushed to his bedside and got Reg out of hospital and back to his fl at where he wanted to be. Reg lived for eight weeks and we spent much of the time talking about old times, laughing and joking and of course
Ed Jenner dressed as Juicy the Strawberry to help raise funds for Mercy
Hospice’s former Strawberry Festival.
crying. We laughed so much at times Reg would ask me to leave the room. One day he said, ‘you will be the death of me’ and that’s when I said, ‘wouldn’t it be funny if it said on your death certifi cate; Cause of Death – Laughter’. Reg died peacefully one night with his little hands on his chest.
What is your highlight of your involvement with Mercy Hospice?The highlight was being Juicy the Strawberry. We had a lot of fun at the Strawberry Festival handing out fl yers to people saying, ‘support Mercy Hospice’.
Why did you decide to include a gift in your Will to Mercy Hospice?Mercy Hospice is one of my favourite charities so after making provision for family and friends I have bequeathed some money to Mercy Hospice to be used for everyday purposes.Over the years I have had a few friends cared for by Mercy Hospice. For me what is most special is that they help people overcome their fear of dying and provide such wonderful care.
For further information on how bequests are managed & the impact your planned gift would make, please contact Anne Wright on 09 376 7578 or [email protected]
Cause of Death – Laughter
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Link to people with diverse needs helps fi nd volunteers Jamie Henshaw likes to give ‘fashion a go’ so her teacher encouraged her to volunteer at our Mt Roskill Hospice Shop.
“I like to mix and match things,” says the 20-year-old. And when it comes to fashion Jamie knows how to make the clothes shop ready.“I love to steam the clothes,” she says. “It’s my most favourite thing to do.”With Jamie’s interest in fashion, her Mt Roskill Grammar School teacher suggested work experience at one of our Hospice shops.Via Geneva Elevator Transition, an organisation that supports people with diverse needs, Jamie was connected with Mercy Hospice.Jamie has now been volunteering every Wednesday morning at our Mt Roskill Shop for over three months.
Jamie Henshaw’s fashion interest sees her working at Mercy Hospice
“I love it. I really love it,” she says. “I love Christine who’s my boss, she’s really cool. I love meeting lots of people and working in the Mercy Hospice.”Mercy Hospice Volunteer Team Leader Julie Reid says partnering with organisations such as Geneva Elevator Transition means Mercy Hospice has access to people with diverse needs.“That is part of our values. We work with everybody.”
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Heroic Garden Festival 2018 A must-see event for many gardeners and nature lovers. This Festival gives attendees exclusive access to 22 of Auckland’s most prestigious gardens. Date: 9-11 February 2018 Cost: $60 for full weekend passEarly bird special $50 until 20 DecemberTo purchase visit: www.heroicgardens.org.nz or contact [email protected] or Ph: 09 376 7571
dates to
diary
Have Yourself a Swinging Little ChristmasSave the date! A musical delight with Tim Beveridge with special guests.December 16, 2017 Auckland Town HallChristmas Cakes
Mixed with JOY, baked with LOVE, fi lled with Christmas WISHES. The Great NZ Christmas Cake Company goodies, just like Nana used to make, are now available to order. Beautifully presented in a gift tin, they will make an ideal gift this Christmas for family & friends.To order phone, Lesley Cranston, DDI: 09 376 7579or visit: www.mercyhospice.org.nz/main/catalogue.asp
Bucket List BroadcastKeep a watch on our Facebook page to get involved in our very fi rst Bucket List Broadcast coming in the New Year. To ‘Like’ our page visit:www.facebook.com/mercyhospiceakld
4 easy ways to donate
Mail the coupon below to Mercy Hospice Auckland
Call (09) 361 5966 Donate Onlinewww.mercyhospice.org.nz
Internet Banking BNZ 02 0100 0815020 00Please confi rm your gift by email to: [email protected]
STEP 1: MY GIFTMy choice $
STEP 2: DONATION FREQUENCY Monthly by credit card One-off
STEP 3: MY PAYMENT Cheque made out to: Mercy Hospice Auckland Debit my credit card (please circle)VISA MasterCard AMEXCard number
Name on card
Signature
Expiry date: ___/___
YES! I would like to make a donation towards the ‘Families as Carers’ programme so every patient and their family receives the vital care when they need it most.
STEP 4: MY DETAILSTitle First name
Surname
Address
PhonePlease send me information about: Monthly giving by direct debit Including Mercy Hospice in my will
Donations of $5 and over are tax deductible and will be receipted.Charities Commission # CC31621
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61 College Hill, Ponsonby, PO Box 47693, Ponsonby
Jorja’s story continued from page one
How did Mercy Hospice help your Mum and your family? The staff at Mercy Hospice Auckland were phenomenal. From the at-home treatments she received prior to her stay at Hospice, to the time in hospice, the care and support provided to my Mum was more than we could have ever hoped for. The staff was also there for my sisters and me during everything. They were able to answer questions and provide shoulders to cry on. The people at Mercy Hospice are angels on earth.
What is your last memory of your Mum? When taking her to breakfast with my sister Katrina, we were able to fi nd her a bacon buttie, her favourite breakfast item.Also, she told me she was cold and asked for a blanket. I asked if she wanted me to cuddle her instead to keep her warm. She said she would love that.