TO acknowledge National Palliative Care week (May 21-27), Western District Health Service (WDHS) held a remembrance service on Thursday for grieving family members.

Palliative Care involves clients and their carers working towards achieving the maximum quality of life for clients suffering from terminal illness.

WDHS palliative care clinical nurse consultant, Erika Fisher, said this is achieved by helping to relieve the physical, emotional, spiritual and social stresses of illness for both clients and their carers.

“Our aim is to make palliative care available to anyone who needs it in the Southern Grampians. Our service also extends to Casterton in the Glenelg Shire,” she said.

“It is for people who have reached a stage in their illness when curative treatment is no longer considered appropriate.

“To receive nursing care from the Palliative Care Service, you will require a referral from your local practitioner or referring hospital, or direct contact may be made with the Palliative Care Service.”

Palliative care grief and bereavement counsellor, Donna Gunn, also offers Dignity Therapy at WDHS, which is widely used in palliative care settings around the world.

“Dignity Therapy has been very popular with clients and their families and involves preparing a life reflection book,” she said.

“This gives clients the chance to record meaningful aspects of their lives, so they can share it with family and friends at a time that is special for them.”

WDHS palliative care supports families after death through support from a grief and bereavement counsellor and a team of bereavement support volunteers.

WDHS has recently extended the bereavement support to all families affected by death following a loved one passing away on the acute wards.

Currently there are three volunteers in the bereavement support team, all with strong supportive care backgrounds.

All families also receive a condolence card after death and a support phone call after six weeks.

Every year a special palliative care service is also conducted for loved ones to remember those who have passed away.

The service was conducted by reverend Peter Cook in the courtyard at Hamilton Base Hospital.