Palliative Care – Let’s talk about death

What does it mean to have a good death? What does palliative care mean?

Death is the one guarantee in life, yet for many of us, it’s something we just don’t talk about.

National Palliative Care Week, held from 22 – 28 May 2022, is Australia’s largest annual awareness-raising initiative held to increase understanding of the many benefits of palliative care.

This year’s theme, ‘It’s Your Right’, seeks to raise awareness about the rights of all Australians to access high-quality palliative care when and where they need it.

One of the great myths about palliative care is that it is only a synonym for end-of-life care, but it really is about much more. It’s about living as well as possible, for as long as possible.

The Bellarine Community Health Palliative Care team understand the difficult situations people face with a life-limiting illness and provide support and care for all family members facing the death of a loved one.

Palliative care nurses become involved with patients as early as their diagnosis, as well as throughout their treatment, and stay with them until the end.

A recent survey by Palliative Care Australia found 88% of people believe it is important to start thinking and talking about their wishes and preferences for care (if they were to become seriously or terminally ill), but despite this, well over half of Australians (56%) have not undertaken any action regarding talking about or recording their end of life wishes.

The time is now, let’s start talking about death.

Learn more about the BCH Palliative Care Team here.

Palliative Care – Let’s talk about death