Hospice Week 1-8 May 2017
Theme :Palliative Care for all
Hospice Week highlights the role of partnership in providing support and care for people with life-threatening illnesses. The activities of this week seek to recognise, share and celebrate the achievements of hospice and palliative care programmes with their partners.
We would like to encourage everyone to support their local hospice in the community either through a donation or as a volunteer.This will assist hospices to continue the amazing work they do.
Below are some useful resources which will assist with making important decisions for your future health care:
1. Advanced Health Care planning
Death is an event that happens to everyone but most of us are ill-prepared for it. For this reason, HPCA has declared Sunday, 16 April 2017 as “advanced health care planning day”, and it is encouraging everyone to talk to loved ones about their end-of-life choices.
It has developed a basic questionnaire to guide people and their families about how they would like their healthcare to be managed towards the end of their lives.
“We encourage people to talk with their family and their doctor about their own choices and preferences in the event of experiencing serious illness or injury and to document our wishes for care if we are seriously ill or injured, says Dr Liz Gwyther, CEO of HPCA.
The Advanced Health Care document can be downloaded here
2. Radio Interview
Find an inclusive radio interview with CEO, Dr Liz Gwyther below, discussing Advanced Health Care Planning on Radio 702. If you would like to download this clip, click here
3.Candlelight Ceremony
The Department of Health in Gauteng will be hosting an AIDS Candlelight Memorial service on the 21 May 2017 in memory of loved ones.Hospices have traditionally used light a candle to remember anyone who has died, It would be therefore fitting for hospices to continue this tradition no matter what the illness. We would like to encourage all hospices to participate and share with us on our digital platfoms.
4. Posters
There are many myths about hospice. Below are some infographics that can be used to promote hospices and the work they do
5. Pearls of Palliative Care
HPCA will be launching the Pearls of Palliative Care colouring-in campaign during Hospice Week to elevate awareness. The butterfly design was drawn by well-known artist Cyril Coetzee and can be found at selected Primi Piatti restaurants countrywide.
For any additional information or queries, please contact Eric Watlington on (021) 531 0277 or eric@hpca.co.za
