Meaningful conversations help fulfill clients’ final wishes

This week (11-17 May) is National Palliative Care Week, raising awareness about palliative care, to open the conversation about quality care and its benefits when it’s needed.

Bolton Clarke provides care across a broad range of clinical areas including for clients and residents with a life limiting illness.

“It is a privilege to support clients with palliative care needs and their families. Providing care can be emotionally challenging but also very rewarding,” said Leanne Davey, Nurse Practitioner Palliative Care.

“By providing a generalist approach to palliative care we can help to recognise when a client or resident is deteriorating and support and plan holistic and personalised care, working closely with their general practitioner and specialist palliative care service when needs are complex.”

Bolton Clarke Care Manager Sam Lanteri supports clients and families in Melbourne’s west with their palliative care needs.

“It can often be confronting for clients and their families when palliative care services are recommended,” Sam said.

“So it’s important to have honest and open discussions as well as supporting the family through that period.

“We encourage our clients to start conversations early regarding an Advanced Care Plan to ensure they can be cared for as they wish.”

Sam said by working with clients, care teams are able to support quality of life for as long as possible.

She and her Bolton Clarke nursing team are currently supporting client Peter and his family to fulfill his wish of saying goodbye to his home country after his diagnosis with pancreatic cancer.

“I really wanted to go back to my hometown in New Zealand before I become too unwell to travel but I didn’t think I could as I needed the support of the nurses,” Peter said.

“My family and I were able to sit down with the Bolton Clarke nurses who talked us through how we could make the trip happen with my family helping me with my care needs.

“I am so grateful for the support the team have given me and my family as I wouldn’t have been able to book my trip to New Zealand without their help.”

“The palliative journey for clients is individualised and it’s important to listen to their wishes and tailor their care to meet those individualised needs,” Sam said.

“Knowing that my team and I have assisted a client and their family throughout the hardest time in their lives, respecting their wishes, treating them with dignity to ensure they are comfortable and at peace is why I feel honoured to be a part of their Palliative journey.”