In the Community
Lake Taupo Hospice supports people at home, helping them to remain as independent and active as possible. All the services we offer are free of charge
Nursing Care:
Our Patient Care Co ordinators are registered nurses and they visit patients and asses their needs on an on going basis.
They will also
- Liaise with other health professionals such as Doctors and District Nurses involved in the patients care
- Organise the loan of equipment to allow continued care at home. Equipment available includes motorized beds, wheelchairs and showering aids
- Provide advice and support for caregivers
- Assist with pain control and other symptoms that may be causing concern
- Arrange respite care if required
- Arrange for personal care services and home help if required
- Liaise with other members of the Hospice team to arrange other services
Day Care (Tuesday Group)
Every Tuesday our patients and their caregivers are invited to our Tuesday Club. A welcome morning tea is provided by a group of volunteers and then those patients who wish to are welcome to join in the organized activity which ranges from an entertainment of some kind to a creative project. Those patients who prefer to just sit and chat or perhaps do a jig saw or challenge each other on our Wii are of course welcome to do so. At midday our volunteers serve a lovely meal and then people depart when they wish.
In conjunction with the Tuesday Club we have a massage therapist working in our massage room offering therapy to patients and caregivers.
Art and Craft Group
Once a week a group of volunteers run an art and craft group at Hospice House. Each week there is a "class" covering anything from sketching to card making and fabric art to pottery. Patients are welcome to participate in the class or work away on a project they have started – either way there is great assistance available to them.
Volunteer Services
Specially recruited and trained volunteers offer a large number of additional services to our patients
- Home visitors provide either some company for the patient or respite for caregivers (so that they can go shopping etc)
- Complementary therapists. Fully qualified therapists are available to visit patients in their homes offering a wide variety of therapies including massage and Reiki
- Beauty Therapists are pleased to offer their skills to make a patient feel better about their appearance and services includes facials, manicures and hairdressing
- Biographers. Whether a patient would like to record just a few stories from their life or a more comprehensive history we have trained biographers who will sit with patients, record their stories and then transcribe these into a bound booklet.
- Our podiatrist will visit patients and address foot related problems
- Drivers. Whether a patient needs assistance to attend an event at Hospice House or to get to an appointment we have drivers who will provide transport
- Loss and Grief Support is provided by a qualified counselor who is happy to sit and talk to the patient and/or the family
- Our Legal advisor will provide information on matters such as creating a "Power of Attorney" or a will
- Home cooking is provided by a "small army" of volunteers who supply our patients with baking and tasty meals
Bereavement Service
Lake Taupo Hospice cares for and supports partners, family and friends through the entire journey with the patient and this extends to bereavement counseling and an invitation to join our Kowhai group which helps bereaved people re-engage with their community again.
