Room 64 - A Palliative Care Podcast

Room 64 is joined by Jill Mann from Barwon Health's Advance Care Planning team, who shares her experience and the role of the Advance Care Planning program in supporting people to plan for future health, care and medical treatments. The program identifies goals, values and medical preferences where individual needs and priorities are documented for the future.

Who would make medical treatment decisions for you if you were too sick to do this for yourself?

For more information about Advance Care Planning through Barwon Health, visit www.barwonhealth.org.au/services-departments/advance-care-planning or phone 4215 7723.

Kat Dunell joins Room 64 to share her experience with the Barwon Health Palliative Care team, after her husband Brett Smith was diagnosed with melanoma at age 43 and died seven years later.

Given melanoma is the second most common cancer for men in Australia, Kat's message is “Take it seriously. Get your skin checked every year. Find out if you're high risk or low risk”.

This episode features the sounds of the didgeridoo from Michael Cousins, an indigenous healer who supported Brett and his family in palliative care with his connection to land and country.

Room 64 is joined by members of the McKellar Singing Group, as part of the Palliative Care program at Barwon Health. This choir came together through grief and now sings in the McKellar Chapel, celebrating a generosity of spirit through music.

“Bringing a group of bereaved people together... creates a great layer of comfort and hope.”

Clinical nurse coordinator Robyn Matheson joins the podcast to talk about running Barwon Health's Pal@Home program, which won a Victorian Public Health Care Award in the category of “improving the integration of care for patients with chronic and complex conditions”.

During Palliative Care Week, it is important to reflect on the exceptional palliative care service provided by Barwon Health and in this case the Pal@Home team – the difference they make to people's lives simply by giving their patients choice.

“When we think about the human animal bond there’s no time that we’re more vulnerable than when we’re facing the loss of a pet.” In this conversation for World Veterinary Day, Dr Alicia Kennedy from Cherished Pets shares her experiences working in the unique area of palliative veterinary care.

Alicia also discusses ways in which Cherished Pets helps support Barwon Health patients who are at the end of life to ensure that their pet will be cared for after their death. She offers insight into how important it is to include pets and to honour the human animal bond when supporting people planning for end of life. The peace of mind that people feel knowing their pets will be loved and looked after when they are no longer able to, is immeasurable.”

#CherishedPets  #TheSocial HeartedVet  #PalliativeCareVictoria  #PalliativeCareAustralia #WorldVeterinaryDay

Tonya Court returns to chat with her son Owen, who was six when his father died 12 years ago. Now 18, Owen reflects on his memories of his dad playing Lego and making music, and their connection through his drums, the importance of creating the space for conversations, and that there is “no timeline for grief”.

Find out more about organisations supporting young people with grief and loss:

Wombats Wish - a support group for children in Geelong

Nurse consultant Melanie Davies from the Barwon Health Palliative Care team talks to Brian MacAfee about challenges facing people with Motor Neuron Disease, his experience living with the disease, and how his family is raising funds to offer practical support for people impacted by MND in the region.

Clinical nurse consultants Nicole Morrison and Ruth Morrison talk about their role in advocating for palliative patients, as well as the importance of empowering patients and their carers through education.

Tonya Court shares her thoughts and experiences with Jen and Christine about the patient-centred care of the Barwon Health Palliative Care team, the impact of death and grief on her young family, her life changes, and how she is connecting with others by starting up a support group for young women with children whose partners have died, called “Lighthouse Friends”.

As part of Dying To Know Day, Libby Maloney from Natural Grace Holistic Funerals in conversation with Barwon Health Palliative Care clinical nurse consultant Mel Davies, reflecting on end-of-life, and the importance of building confidence in families to honour the lives of the person they love through end-of-life planning.

Featuring the music “Go”  from Torquay singer/songwriter Gary Banks album “Live at the Courthouse”.

In this episode of Room 64, we acknowledge NAIDOC Week with Deeanna's story about her mum Mary, both proud indigenous women, and their experience in the Palliative Care Unit at Barwon Health.

Deeanna shares her mum's story of life and death, and how as a family they were able to say goodbye to Mary in their own home with love, flowers and a beautifully hand-painted coffin, according to Mary’s wishes.

As part of Palliative Care Week, Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver talks about the role of palliative care in the wider organisation, as well as the importance of encouraging conversations in the community about death and dying.

As part of Palliative Care Week, we acknowledge the “It's more than you think!” campaign and highlight Barwon Health Palliative Care's “Have a Go” program. This episode features conversations with Nicky Craig from Wee Skitters and Tamika Cefai from Diamond Castings, as Nicky talks about how the simple act of making bears for others from the clothes of their loved ones has enabled her to acknowledge the experience of her grandmother in palliative care. Tamika shares the strength she gains from the memory of her sister and the pleasure she gets from the stories of the people that place their trust in her hands as she crafts amazing hand castings.

Interviewed by Christine Brooks Facilitator of Room 64 and Jen Walsh Palliative Care Volunteer Co-ordinator.

In line with Advance Care Planning Week, Marilyn Dolling talks about how the death of her husband Roger showed the value of Advance Care Planning, spending time with him in Barwon Health’s Palliative Care Unit, and the importance of family. Interviewed by Christine Brooks and Jen Walsh.