Matamata woman hasn’t let brain tumour ... - Hospice Waikato

Diagnosed with a grade 4 glioblastoma in December last year, nine months on Linda Wilson is still living a full and positive life.

That is thanks, in part, to the support she and husband Robert receive from Hospice Waikato Rural Outreach nurse Jenni Bell.

Linda’s diagnosis came about when she went for an eye examination where her optician picked up that something wasn’t quite right. Linda was sent for a CT scan.

“We got a call from Linda’s doctor asking to see her,” said Robert.

“We went in and she admitted her to hospital on December 4 and was operated on on December 8.”

Linda spent two weeks in rehabilitation after surgery before being discharged to home.

Soon after Jenni was paired up with Linda and Robert, along with a district nurse who, like Jenni, visits the couple at home regularly.

Jenni’s role as a Rural Outreach nurse involves providing specialist palliative care

advice and support to patients, their family and other health professionals, but she sees one of the most important parts of her role as offering emotional, social and practical support to people in rural communities who have a life threatening illness.”

Continued on page 2

Hospice Waikato News | September 2015 | 1

Hospice News

Matamata woman hasn’t let brain tumour diagnosis stop her from doing the things she loves

October 2016

Gallagher Family Hospice, 334 Cobham Drive, Hillcrest, Hamilton | PO Box 325, WMC, Hamilton 3240 | T: 07 859 1260 | F: 07 859 1266 | www.hospicewaikato.org.nz | /hospicewaikato

FAMILY HOSPICE

2 | Hospice Waikato News | October 2016 Hospice Waikato News | October 2016 | 3

Where has the year gone? Here we are already looking towards another Christmas with our last newsletter for 2016.

Throughout this issue of Hospice News, I hope you get a sense of the ongoing work we do to raise the funds we need to keep our service available free of charge and also of the generous support that we receive from many wonderful people, companies and community groups.

Thank you all for your donations and gifts that allow Hospice Waikato to continue to care and support patients and their families through illness, death and bereavement.

Thank you for your interest in our organisation and the service we provide - support for Hospice Waikato comes in so many ways and we are sincerely grateful to everyone who contributes.

In the last twelve months your support has helped us to care for more than 1400 patients with a range of life limiting conditions; our care also extends to families/whanau and carers, and is, as you know, provided free of charge.

The majority of our care continues to be delivered in people’s homes. In the last 12 months, our nurses have made over 8430 visits to Hospice Waikato patients in their own homes. This Hospice @ Home service

enables our patients to stay at home for as long as they are comfortable: fully supported by a nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist and palliative care nurse as well as a visiting palliative medicine doctor, social workers, counsellors and spiritual care coordinator.

I wish you all a safe and happy summer and Christmas season.

Don’t forget to check out our 2016 Christmas merchandise and make a note of our Christmas Concert (December 8th) featuring the fabulous soprano Julia Booth and well known singer Tim Beveridge. And if you are thinking of entertaining before Christmas, why not make it an event for a great cause? See our new Dine at Mine promotion on page 6 of this newsletter.

Craig Tamblyn Chief Executive

From Craig...

Thank you to the wonderful residents at Netherville Retirement Village who raised over $4300 for Hospice Waikato at their annual village craft afternoon tea. The residents sold a variety of raffles, crafts, jams, jellies, pickles, and cakes. The total amount raised through their efforts over the last 16 years is an astounding $38,495. Special thanks to the wonderful organisers Kathy Polkinghorne and Robin van der Beek and all the Netherville residents. You make a real difference to people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

Thank you to staff at Lugton’s Real Estate who got together and donated 40 bottles of wine, and to our Facebook followers who kindly donated over 70 bottles of wine, beer and spirits for our Inpatient Unit drinks trolley. The drinks trolley is an initiative set up for patients and their families. Doing the rounds every day it provides its worth as a conversation starter between patients

and loved ones. The drinks trolley is a great example of how relatively small things can make a big difference to people’s overall experiences.

A big thank you to Yvonne and Fred Philips and Hamilton Central Rotary for organising the 11th annual Rotary Chefs’ Night Out. The event was once again an enjoyable evening for foodies and raised $12,000 for Hospice Waikato. Hospice is indeed fortunate that there are groups that continue to work for, and give, so generously to the community.

Ebbett Volkswagen held an exclusive evening launching their new Tiguan motor vehicle in September. During the evening they also auctioned off a brand new Tiguan TSI Comfortline package along with a number of weekend packages raising an amazing $15,069 for Rainbow Place. Thank you Richard and the team at Ebbett Volkswagen.

Our sincere thanks to...

Continued from page 1

Hospice’s Rural Outreach nurses work in conjunction to support families with whatever they need, from counselling to medical equipment. Jenni works in collaboration with district nurses, GPs and other health providers so the patient and their family has wrap-around care.

Jenni generally checks in with her patients once a fortnight but more frequently if her patients’ needs are increasing.

For Linda and Robert, Jenni has helped arrange respite care for Linda at nearby Pohlen hospital, which has a palliative care wing, so that Robert can take a break for a couple of days.

“It’s a real privilege to work with people on this journey they are on,” said Jenni.

“It’s quite a private time with them in their home. It’s very rewarding to be able to be with people at this time in their lives. They are very welcoming.”

Jenni said she often feels she becomes part of a family’s “inner circle” but she also recognises there are times when she needs to step away and respect a family’s privacy.

Jenni has been a Rural Outreach nurse for five years now. Prior to that she was a district nurse in Morrinsville, Te Aroha and Auckland.

At any one time, Jenni has about 35 patients on her books whom she visits in Matamata, the outskirts of Cambridge, Tirau, Putaruru, Arapuni and Tokoroa.

Linda and Robert both remain buoyant and “take it one day at a time”.

“Jenni provides warmth, friendliness, she’s just a really good person,” said Robert.

“Generally Linda is in good heart but when she’s a bit down Jenni cheers her up. She’s a good friend to us.”

While Linda has lost her peripheral vision and needs some assistance getting in and out of chairs, for the most part she has remained active and well, though her weakened left hand does give her a bit of trouble. She refers to it as an “adolescent young man” in that it’s disobedient and unreliable.

The couple recently took a trip to Wellington to attend an occupational therapy clinical workshop.

Linda was a principal lecturer in occupational therapy at Otago Polytechnic where she founded the institute’s occupational therapy school.

The last two of her supervised students were presenting at the workshop in Wellington and she was thrilled to see them speak.


Hospice volunteer enjoys helping outLynne Rudman has become a familiar face on a Wednesday at the Gallagher Family Hospice. Lynne remembers back to her last year of high school when she was given the opportunity to do work experience at the hospital, alongside nurses in the oncology department. “I knew then that I wanted to help people,” says Lynne, who now works as a nurse at Waikato DHB.

In between her nursing job, Lynne has also become a familiar face at Hospice Waikato on a Wednesday. With her warm smile and caring personality, it’s easy to see why she’s a valued member of our volunteering team. Lynne first started volunteering with Hospice Waikato in 2012 as a family

support volunteer, offering support through a friendly phone call, or driving and social visiting, giving carers a break to go to an appointment or do the groceries.

“My friend suggested I should become a volunteer so I did”.

Today, Lynne is still a dedicated volunteer, but instead of spending a few hours a week with patients she has moved to behind the counter on reception at the Gallagher Family Hospice.

“I’m a trained nurse, currently working at Waikato Hospital, so it fitted nicely with my skills and desire to care for sick people. What interested me about Hospice Waikato is that Hospice care is also offered to the entire family and I feel very privileged to be able to help care for families as well.”

Lynne says that it’s the small things that make a difference, such as walking relatives over to the Inpatient Unit if they have come to visit their loved one, or answering the phone and assisting with patient enquiries.

Manager of Volunteer Services, Karen Mansfield, says “Lynne is very much a valued member of our team who helps to support us all. Lynne’s bright bubbly personality is exactly what we need! We really look forward to seeing her on a Wednesday.”

Hospice Waikato relies heavily on volunteers who regularly donate their time and efforts. Find out more about becoming part of the volunteering family - phone Karen Mansfield on 07 859 1260 or email [email protected].

Lynne Rudman on reception at the Gallagher Family Hospice.


Murray and Ann Day have a special connection with Hospice Waikato. Three of their close friends spent their final days there and the Days were overwhelmed at how friendly and supportive the staff were of those friends and their families. “We saw first-hand just how supportive the staff were,” said Murray.

“They were always so helpful and our friends felt very at home during their time as inpatients at Hospice Waikato.”

Murray said visitors were all made to feel welcome and no request of the patient or their family was too much.

It made sense then, said Murray, that the couple would bequeath a sum of money to Hospice Waikato in their wills.

“I would encourage people to speak to Hospice about what it involves — and give what you can, no matter the amount. Every bit helps,” said Murray.

Hospice Waikato bequests manager Patrick Cummings said leaving a bequest to Hospice Waikato was a way to ensure a person — or couple — left a lasting legacy.

Patrick said the first step to becoming a bequestor was to talk it over with family.

“Have a think about what you want to do and speak with your family to make sure everyone is okay with the idea,” said Patrick.

“Once you’re all happy with the decision, you can make contact with me to discuss it further.”

Patrick said those who decided to leave a bequest fell into one of two schools: those who had an affinity with Hospice Waikato — like Murray and Ann, and those who wanted their funds to go to a local charitable organisation.

Patrick said Hospice Waikato was grateful for any amount bequested. Many bequestors decided to leave a percentage

of their estate rather than a fixed dollar amount.

When Murray retired from his career as a chartered accountant at Deloitte, he decided to dedicate himself to volunteer work and fundraising efforts for community causes.

Murray has fundraised for a multitude of causes including Hospice, Plunket, Southwell School, Outward Bound and the Waikato Medical Research Trust.

His efforts stretch back several decades when he was heavily involved in fundraising for Waikato Hospital’s first CT scanner.

To find out more about how you can become a bequestor to Hospice Waikato, contact Patrick Cummings on 07 859 1260 or email [email protected].

Hospice puts call out for bequestors

BELOW: Left to right, Murray and Ann Day with Hospice Waikato bequests manager Patrick Cummings. Photo Danielle Nicholson

“I would encourage people to speak to Hospice about what it involves — and give what you can, no matter the amount. Every bit helps,”


“Will you Dine at Mine for Hospice Waikato?” That’s the question we want you to ask all your friends and family! Hospice Waikato’s new promotion Dine at Mine, launches in October. It’s about sharing good times with friends and family and raising funds for Hospice Waikato, while reminding us all to make the most of every moment.

The idea is simple! Get a group of your favourite people together, whether you fancy hosting a formal evening or just a casual night with some friends – your Dine at Mine event is completely up to you, your budget and your tastes.

Plus, everyone who hosts a Dine at Mine event will have the chance to win $1000 to spend at Kitchen Things!

Dine at Mine Chef Ambassador Mat Maclean says “Anybody can take part in this initiative, from experienced cooks to complete beginners. Your event can range from a three course meal to a simple BBQ after a rugby game, a work lunch, or an afternoon tea. It’s all about having fun while raising funds for a great cause.”

If you would like to take part in Dine at Mine, please contact Monique at Hospice Waikato on 07 859 1260 or email [email protected] for your fundraising pack, complete with tips to help make your event a success!

Dine at Mine launches

Entertaining for a great cause in our community

Supported by

Fighting to raise funds in the ringIn an effort to raise funds to help Hospice Waikato to provide specialist community palliative care to people living with a terminal or life threatening illness, Steve Mallett and Steve Pikia are taking to the boxing ring.

Through a rigorous 10-week training programme, Steve Pikia will be put through his paces by personal trainer Steve Mallett, ensuring he’s fight-night fit and healthy when he faces his opponent at the Corporate Boxing fight night to be held on 26 November.

All funds raised through sponsorship will be donated to their chosen charity - Hospice Waikato.

No strangers to terminal illnesses both Steves have lost family members to cancer, and both have been fortunate enough to benefit from the assistance provided by Hospice Waikato.

In October 2012, Steve Mallett lost his mum.

“The Hospice nurse was amazing in my mum’s last hours of life, knowing exactly what mum wanted even when communication was hard. She was honest and answered all the hard questions. As heart wrenching as it was, I will never forget that care and attention; without Hospice, I don’t know how I would have got through that time.”

For Steve Pikia, losing his dad to cancer is motivation enough to step into the ring and raise awareness and money for Hospice Waikato.

“It’s going to be intense training 5 days a week for 10 weeks, but I’m up for the challenge and look forward to testing my will power and physical ability for a worthy cause. I’m extremely grateful to my sponsors Steve Mallett from No Barriers Personal Training and to Mortgage Express for supporting me in this endeavour.”

You can find out more about Steve and Steve fighting cancer in the ring by visiting their Facebook page www.facebook.com/stevepikiathechallenge2016/, following them on Instagram (www.instagram.com/steve_roadtochallenge/).


Hospice Waikato is joining with the Waikato DHB in a bid to improve access for our rural communities and aged care residents to key health professionals and specialist palliative care.

“Hospice Waikato services one of the largest geographical areas of any Hospice in New Zealand,” says Hospice CEO, Craig Tamblyn.

“The best thing to do if you want to improve people’s quality of life through a life limiting or terminal illness is to get them good access to palliative care” says Craig.

Over the past year the Waikato DHB has been gathering information from rural communities and rest homes to get a better sense of their healthcare needs. Common themes are fewer resources, poorer access to services and limited availability of key health professionals.

With the ageing population and increased demand for health services, these issues will continue to grow. It’s becoming increasingly difficult for the Hospice care

teams to maintain a good level of contact with patients and families.

The Hospice Anywhere Project seeks to improve Hospice Waikato’s ability to provide specialist advice and support to patients, their family members and other health professionals by providing access to their palliative care team through their computer, smart phone or tablet, wherever they can initiate a text or video chat. The service is free, but normal data charges will apply.

“If you want to die at home and you live in rural Waikato, what happens if you become unwell and your family want some support? With this new service, the palliative care doctor, nurse or others in the care team can engage more easily with patients in their home without having to wait until a home visit can be arranged,” says Craig.

Ultimately, the benefits to Hospice patients will include; reduced travel for patients to attend appointments, less cost and stress, improved (easier) access for more frequent contact, more timely access – i.e. they don’t have to wait until the next scheduled clinic, improved access to Family Services support – counselling, social work, spiritual care, better self-managed care at home by patients and carers, increased access to

professional information on-line.

However, virtual healthcare will not be easy to access by everyone. Often living rurally means poor to no internet connection, and climbing to the top of a hill to receive cell phone reception. One of the benefits of working in collaboration with the DHB is the partnership the DHB has developed with Spark to try and address some of these issues.

Hospice Waikato will not be counting on the fact that all rural communities will have access to virtual services.

“Rest assured the Hospice Anywhere virtual health service will only enhance our existing service,” adds Craig. “Those living in rural Waikato will still be able to access normal Hospice services. Our Rural Outreach team working in collaboration with district nurses, general practitioners and other health providers will remain available to people living outside of Hamilton, Cambridge and Ngaruawahia.”

Alongside improving access to virtual health care, the Hospice Anywhere Project is also increasing the palliative care education and support provided to other health care providers who have an important role in caring for people with a life limiting or terminal illness.

Hospice Anywhere Project

Gordon Giddings, medical director of Hospice Waikato trialling the new virtual health

equipment for the Hospice Anywhere Project.


Carols by Candlelight

17 December, 4.30 to 7 pm at Claudelands

This is a real family favourite! Hospice Waikato is selling battery-operated candles at this event. Candles are $3 each or 2 for $5

Hamilton Christmas tree in Garden Place

Join Hospice Waikato supporters and help remember our loved ones at Christmas time with a memory star on Hamilton’s Christmas tree in Garden Place. Make a donation to Hospice Waikato and get a memory star to remember a loved one. Stars are available from Coffee Post, SkyCity Hamilton, Ground Floor, Victoria Street, Hamilton from beginning of November. Be creative - add messages, drawings or decorations and dedicate your star to a loved one. Come along with family and friends and hang it yourself at 6pm to 7.30pm on Saturday December 3rd (or we can do it for you – just leave your star at the Coffee Room in SkyCity and we will collect from there and hang on the Tree).

Mark your diary now with these Christmas events

21 November to 18 December 2016

Make a donation to Hospice Waikato and get a memory card to remember your loved ones at Christmas this year.

Thank you to Farmers for their continued support of our Farmers Trees of Remembrance.

You will find our Trees of Remembrance from 21 November to 18 December 2016 at the following locations:

• Farmers Centre Place • Farmers Chartwell • Farmers The Base • Farmers Matamata • Farmers Thames

12 December to 23 December:

• New World Rototuna

Southwell School$45 per personAll proceeds to Hospice Waikato

THURSDAY

DEC 8AT 7.00PM

Capture the magical spirit of Christmas with this intimate and heart-warming concert.

Tim is joined for the evening by world class soprano

Julia Booth.

Come along and enjoy a real touch of old-fashioned

Christmas spirit.

Book your tickets now on www.hospicewaikato.org.nz or

phone Ellie on 07 859 1260.

Add your photos and message here

Hamilton City Christmas Parade

11 December 3pm

The Christmas Parade is a must-do Christmas experience for the young and young at heart. Come and join us for the festival fantasy as around 80 floats and groups parade down Anglesea Street in central Hamilton.

Farmers Christmas Trees of Remembrance

New Zealand artist FLOX has designed this beautiful hand-painted Christmas tree bauble in a presentation box.

Available only from Farmers, all proceeds from sales will be donated to your local Hospice.

Celebrate the season

Christmas ConcertJoin us for a magical Christmas concert featuring one

of New Zealand’s finest singers, Mr Tim Beveridge.

8 | Hospice Waikato News | October 2016

Please return this form in the provided paid envelope to: Hospice Waikato, PO Box 325, Waikato Mail Centre, Hamilton 3240

Or freecall 0800 HOSPICE

Or visit hospicewaikato.org.nz/donate

Donate via internet banking to Westpac 03-1555-0091553-00. Please ensure you complete the form below so we may acknowledge your gift.

The Privacy Act of 1993 requires us to advise you that we keep contact information of supporters on file to help us with fundraising. If you do not wish us to keep your information, please advise us. If you wish to check the details that we have on your file, you are welcome to enquire. Please notify us if you wish to be removed from our mailing list.

I wish to find out more information about leaving a bequest. Please send me a brochure.

If you do not wish to receive these newsletters please email [email protected]

You can help keep our nurses on the roadHere is my donation towards a new car for Hospice nurses to use to visit patients at home

Automatic payment. Please send me details.

/

VALUE OF DONATION

$

Credit Card. Please debit this amount to my credit card.

Cheque. Made payable to Hospice Waikato.

Mastercard Visa

SIGNATURE

NAME OF CARDHOLDER

CARD NUMBER

EXPIRY DATE

Bank transfer. See Hospice Waikato bank details, left.

I wish to become a regular giver.Please send me more information.

STREET ADDRESS

Mr Mrs Miss Ms Other:

NAME

SUBURB CITY POSTCODE

PHONE

EMAIL

$26,252

Thank you to the following trusts for their generous support...

Become a Friend of Hospice!Join our regular givers (monthly donors), and help keep our services free of charge to patients and families. As a charity we are reliant on the generosity of our community.

Regular giving is easy, and can be as much or as little as you like.

To become a regular giver, please call Patrick on 07 859 1260, or email [email protected]

$13,500

$5,000

$13,200

$25,000

$3,000

$3,000

Thank you for supporting

Hospice Waikato through

sponsorship of equipment for

Hospice events.

Thank you for assisting

with purchasing a specialist

community bed for patients

at home.

Thank you for assisting with

purchasing two specialist

community beds for

patients at home.

Thank you for assisting

with the salary costs of our

Volunteer Manager.


salaries for our Hospice

nurses and therapist.s


purchasing a new vehicle

for Rainbow Place and four

PC tablets for our nurses.


purchasing heat pumps for

our Inpatient Unit.

Documents

Matamata woman hasn’t let brain tumour ... - Hospice Waikato