If there was only one reason to support Warrnambool and District Community Hospice, the story of Faye and Geoff Chenoweth would be it.
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Mr Chenoweth passed away on Christmas Eve, 2016. Thanks to the tireless efforts of his wife, and help from hospice volunteers, his last wishes to die at home were fulfilled.
Mrs Chenoweth doesn’t pretend the experience was easy, but said she unexpectedly found friendship along the way.
“I met the most wonderful people, they did become my friends. I think they cared for me. I know they cared for Geoff,” she said of the hospice volunteers.
“Just having people there… it meant everything to me.
“It was a long journey but I think it was worth it in the long run.”
The hospice organisation is launching a workplace giving scheme to help expand its hospice in the home model and help more families like the Chenoweths.
Hospice in the home provides trained volunteers for extended daytime, evening and overnight support to help those caring for their loved ones who have chosen to die at home.
Warrnambool and District Community Hospice president Eric Fairbank said the organisation, which receives no government funding, had been generously supported by the community and it was hoped the workplace giving scheme would provide an ongoing income.
Dr Fairbank said the need for hospice in the home was clear.
“Most people say they want to die at home and most people don’t. The figures are about 70 per cent want to die at home and about 15 per cent manage it,” he said.
“There are various reasons for that, but the thing is a lot of people aren’t having their wishes respected. They end up in places they don’t want to be and often don’t need to be.”
He said it was difficult for families to care for their loved ones alone.
“There’s been lots of studies both here and overseas to show if families don’t have support they get worn out. It’s exhausting stuff, around the clock,” he said.
“We can go and stay and the difference that has made is over 50 per cent of the people who have been referred to us are now able to die at home.”
Volunteers now also travel to areas beyond Warrnambool and Dr Fairbank said there was demand to expand this further.
“We’ve had phone calls from Terang and we know from the palliative care figures that there are a lot of patients in Corangamite that are in need of palliative care and hospice services,” he said.
The organisation has also begun Hospice in the Home Assist to check in on people who live alone.
Dr Fairbank said over the next 25 years the number of people dying was expected to double.
“In providing this free service we save the community and we save individuals lots of money,” he said.
“If we’re able to keep someone at home and save them that, that’s a big benefit to the community.”
Glen Riddle is one of the 60 trained volunteer carers and describes the role as very rewarding.
“It’s not difficult, but you do have to be compassionate, a good listener and prepared for whatever may arise,” he said.
“Being a hospice volunteer means that you are helping somebody to remain in their own home and not in hospital until their death. I don’t know of any other privilege greater than sharing a person’s last months, days or weeks, or hours. It’s an honour and a privilege.”
Giving scheme makes it easy for businesses to get involved
Warrnambool and District Community Hospice is making it easy for people to get behind its new workplace giving scheme.
Community liaison officer Emma Stenhouse said the initiative would give businesses and employees the chance to support hospice in a simple but effective way.
“Workplace giving is done before tax so it’s beneficial financially,” she said.
“Using the ‘Give Now’ platform that hospice has decided to use,donations are set up as per your wishes and completely fuss free.
“As the community liaison officer, I will come to you, walk you through the process, provide you with all the information you require to not only commence workplace giving within your business, but also provide you with regular updates on what your financial support is allowing hospice to do within our community.”
Hospice president Eric Fairbank said it was hoped the scheme would help the service expand.
For more information or to get involved contact community liaison officer Emma Stenhouse on 0418 164 202 or Warrnambool and District Community Hospice on 5563 3220.