Hospice Awareness Week Campaign

This week is Hospice Awareness Week and Hospice New Zealand is launching a campaign to help raise awareness about the value of hospice care.

Hospice New Zealand Chief Executive, Wayne Naylor says there continues to be fear and a lack of awareness in our communities of what hospice care includes, where it happens, and the benefits of receiving care early.

“A third of the people who die in New Zealand receive hospice care but many miss out.”

“ Last year around 90% of people with a foreseeable death (34,000) could have benefitted from palliative care. They miss out because of access but also because of fear and mis-understanding of what hospice care is.”

The digital campaign which shares real life stories of patients and whānau reveals the breadth and value of hospice care which is precious and full of magical moments.

The stories aim to dispel a few myths about hospice care, like the notion it is only available in the last days of someone’s life. 

“ If we are involved earlier in someone’s illness, we can support people better to achieve what they want to achieve with their remaining life.  We are actually about life, not just death,” says Mr Naylor.

“The earlier people access hospice the better.  Whether that’s months or even years, getting the benefits of the wrap-around physical, social, spiritual and emotional support means patients get to  live fully until they die.”

Mr Naylor said he hoped that this campaign motivated more New Zealanders to support hospice.

“We rely on the generosity of our communities to deliver our life changing services.  We couldn’t do it without their support.”

“Hospice exists to ensure people receive the care and understanding they deserve, when they are dying.”