National Palliative Care Week to be officially launched at Government House today. National Palliative Care Week, which runs from May 21-28 will be officially launched at a morning tea hosted by Governor-General, His Excellency General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd), Palliative Care Australia’s patron.
The theme for National Palliative Care Week 2017 is: ‘You matter, your care matters. Palliative care can make a difference.’ The theme focuses on aged care, both residential and in the community.
The launch event will include professionals from the aged care and palliative care sectors, as well as aged care residents and family members of people who have received palliative care.
PCA CEO Liz Callaghan says that PCA is using this year’s National Palliative Care Week to raise awareness of palliative care in aged care settings.
“This National Palliative Care Week we want to ensure that everyone is aware that palliative care can be provided to people receiving aged care services, and encourage community members to ask their aged care providers about what end-of-life care is available within their services,” said Ms Callaghan.
“With more than 350,000 Australians cared for by aged care services, it is vital that we ensure we are doing all we can to maximise their quality of life and ensure that the end of their lives are as comfortable as possible.
PCA CEO Liz Callaghan says that National Palliative Care Week will also be used to acknowledge those aged care and palliative care services that provide quality, person-centred care at the end of life.
“National Palliative Care Week allows us to celebrate care providers and support them in their work.
“Many people receiving aged care have complex needs, such as dementia and complex chronic illnesses, and we want to acknowledge the providers of aged care services that work hard to respond to these complexities,” said Ms Callaghan.
“PCA will be thanking all those aged and palliative care providers that work tirelessly to deliver high quality, person-centred care at the end of life.”
The National Palliative Care Week launch at Government House will be the first of many events that will promote palliative care across the country.
For a full list of events this National Palliative Care Week, click here.
