A Palliative Care Roadshow in Gippsland will help people navigate the palliative care system and learn more about planning for the later stages of life.
Gippsland Primary Health Network’s ‘It’s Your Life – Dying Happens’ Roadshow will visit Bairnsdale on Tuesday, July 23. It is designed for communities, families, loved ones and carers.
The initiative is part of the Australian Government’s Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care program, providing funding to Primary Health Networks to coordinate palliative care across their regions.
Gippsland PHN chief executive officer, Amanda Proposch, said some people found it hard to have difficult conversations about planning for the later stages of life.
“This program, and the roadshow, will help you navigate the palliative care system to find out more information for those living with a life-limiting illness or supporting someone you care about,” Ms Proposch said.
The program aims to:
– Improve your access to the best palliative care at home
– Support palliative care services in primary health and community care
– Make sure you get the right care, at the right time and in the right place to reduce unnecessary hospital visits
– Use technology to provide flexible and responsive care, including after-hours care.
Experts from the Victorian Palliative Care Advise Service (PCAS), Ambulance Victoria, a Voluntary Assisted Dying Care Navigator and local community palliative care teams will talk about Advanced Care Planning including palliative care.
PCAS has assisted thousands of Victorians in accessing specialist information and local support when living with or caring for someone with life-limiting illness.
A Victorian Government initiative, the statewide service supports both the community and clinicians with free and confidential information about all aspects of life-limiting illness, palliative care and end-of-life care. PCAS is delivered by the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
Manager of PCAS, Esther McMillan-Drendel, said PCAS helped healthcare workers provide great options, and therefore greater choice, to patients.
“Helping to find the right local service or providing clinical guidance to healthcare workers has the potential to change the outcome for the person on the end of the phone – no matter where they live in Victoria,” Ms McMillan-Drendel said.
“PCAS enables healthcare workers, people living with life-limiting illness and their carers, to feel more confident to make decisions about all aspects of their care.”
Ms Proposch encouraged people to attend the roadshow at The Hub (room 7) from 10.30am to noon.
“Advanced Care Planning ensures all Gippslanders will have the opportunities to express their preferences to inform their treatment in later stages of life,” she said.
“It’s not something we like to think about but it’s important to have a plan in place, if not for you, then for your loved ones.”
