Bendigo Health manager of pastoral care Karen Lunney scatters the ashes of messages written for lost loved ones.
Bendigo Health marked National Palliative Care Week with a Trees of Remembrance Scattering of the Ashes Ceremony.
Each Christmas, people remember their loved ones by writing a special message on a card and hanging a bauble on the Trees of Remembrance at the Bendigo Marketplace. The messages were burnt and scattered at the ceremony on Tuesday.
Palliative Care Week is an annual awareness raising week organised by Palliative Care Victoria. The theme of this year’s Palliative Care Week is What Matters Most?
Bendigo Health Manager of Integrated Palliative Care Service, Alison Smith said the week was a celebration of the tireless efforts of palliative care professionals and volunteers.
“Our focus over the past 18 months has been to develop an intensive service that supports choice for patients regarding their place of care and place of death at the end of life. A choice that can be achieved by talking to your loved ones about what you value most,” she said.
“Demand for palliative care is increasing. Professionals and volunteers are needed in our community to support patients and carers deal with dying, death and bereavement.”
Bendigo Health provides specialist palliative care in Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, and throughout the Southern Loddon Mallee region.
The service is made up of the Loddon Mallee Regional Palliative Care Consultancy Service (LMRPCCS), the Inpatient Palliative Care & Evaluation Unit and Community Palliative Care Service including the Day Hospice (Chum House).
As part of National Palliative Care Week we asked our staff and volunteers what matters most to them about end of life care, and how they feel they made a difference in their roles.