94 | T T Karen Phelps Busting the myths around hospice care Hospice West Auckland is marking its 40th anniversary as a cornerstone of palliative care across the region. Hospice West Auckland REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT When a group of nurses and community members gathered in West Auckland in 1986, they identified a gap that many preferred not to acknowledge: that people in the final stages of life deserved better. Four decades on, Hospice West Auckland is marking its 40th anniversary as a cornerstone of palliative care across the region. “Hospices are interesting organisations as there are a lot of myths around them,” says chief executive Dean Kelly. “Hospices are thought of as a place where people go to a building to pass away but they are so much more than that.” The West Auckland Hospice Charitable Trust Deed was led from its earliest days by local nursing staff who understood firsthand what was missing from the community. Dean says that one of the most persistent misconceptions about Hospice West Auckland is that it exists solely for people who are actively dying. In fact, says Dean, it can step in much earlier. “If you get diagnosed with a terminal illness we can help you with that diagnosis, supporting patients and their families,” he says. Its interdisciplinary team includes nurses, physiotherapists, massage therapists, counsellors, social workers and doctors, all providing free specialist palliative care to West Auckland adults aged 18 and over. Importantly most of that care is delivered not within a building but inside people’s own homes. “Around 70% of our patients actually die at home. It’s about providing what the community wants.” For those who cannot be cared for at home, Hospice West Auckland operates He Whare Korowai — Home From Home, a four-bed facility at its Te Atatu premises offering roundthe-clock short-term end-of-life and respite care in a deliberately homely environment. The space was reimagined and reopened after its inpatient unit was closed in 2017 with Dean saying it is especially meaningful for the Māori and Pacific communities it serves. The organisation has continued to innovate throughout its history. In 2018 it introduced virtual services connecting patients with specialist nurses across New Zealand via phone and video after hours. In 2022 it launched Korowai Care, a programme in which its specialist palliative care team temporarily takes over patient management from GPs to provide intensive symptom support and reduce avoidable hospital admissions. Its network of eight op shops across West Auckland (Massey, New Lynn, Glen Eden, Henderson, Te Atatū Peninsula, Kumeū, Helensville) also plays a vital financial role. Funding for Hospice West Auckland is split roughly equally between government support and community-generated income with the shops a primary contributor. Its newest, Flair in Westgate, takes a distinctly upmarket approach, stocking high-end fashion, art and collectables sourced in part from local businesses donating end-of-line stock. People can also shop at Flair online www.flaironline. hwa.org.nz Underpinning everything are its volunteers. At any given time, around 350 volunteers support Hospice West Auckland including fundraising, staffing shops and sitting with patients. Collectively they contribute approximately 36,000 hours each year. “These people are amazing and a vital part of what we do,” says Dean. “We could not survive without our volunteers, and I really want to acknowledge the important role they play.” He says businesses and individuals can support Hospice West Auckland by donating to or shopping at its op shops, volunteering or exploring sponsorship partnerships. It also offers workplace volunteering workshops for businesses whose staff wish to get involved. Dean sees both challenge and opportunity as Hospice West Auckland moves forward. “The challenge for what we do is meeting the demands of the coming ageing population. The graphs are already showing our services will be in more demand over the next 10 to 30 years. “But there is lots of innovation in what we do, and how technology can really support us. At its heart, the organisation’s philosophy remains unchanged from those early days: You matter to the last moment of your life.”
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