Questions about Palliative Care
 What is Palliative Care?
Where is palliative care provided?
How do you access Palliative Care?
When does Palliative Care begin?
Is Palliative Care only for people with cancer?
Questions about Gandarra Palliative Care Unit
What is Gandarra?
Where is it situated?
Who works there?
What is the role of volunteers?
What role do patients’ families and friends play?
What are the visiting hours?
What are the contact details?
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care is
A service that may be offered to patients following the diagnosis of a life limiting illness.
Available for support and for pain and symptom control while patients are being treated for their disease and when no further treatment options are available.
Care that supports the patients’ rights to have access to the best strategies for pain and symptom control in order to live life as fully as possible.
Not about giving up hope because patients have a life limiting illness, it is about assisting patients to maintain quality of life despite their illness.
Palliative Care services
Encourage patients to participate in care planning and service provision, and includes identifying the roles of family and friends.
Accept the complexity of being human. Caregivers are encouraged to give consideration to the emotional, social, spiritual, cultural and physical aspects of decision making.
Promote preparation for dying in order to reduce fear and promote resourceful living.
Understand that the situation which patients face will also be difficult for family, friends, colleagues and others, who may require support.
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Where is Palliative Care provided?
Palliative care services are provided in many settings. Palliative care services and facilities work together to ensure that patients receive care in the setting most suited to their needs at the time.
Home
Many people who have a life limiting illness want to spend as much time as possible in their own home with the care and support of family, friends and their community. In Victoria there are a number of ways that patients can be supported at home. Each region in Victoria has a specialist community palliative care service which coordinates palliative care services for that region.
Residential Care Facilities
A residential care facility is considered to be the home of those who live there. A patient living in a residential care facility can receive palliative care services there, as would anyone living in their own home. Local palliative care services can provide advice and support to health care professionals in residential care facilities to ensure the patient receives palliative care.
Inpatient Care – Hospital
Many hospitals in Victoria now have a palliative care service or team who can support patients in hospital. Palliative care service providers can talk to patients about how they are managing at home, they can make recommendations about symptom management and can suggest, and often organise, increased support at home if it is needed on discharge.
Inpatient Care – Palliative Care Unit
A number of hospitals in Victoria have a specific palliative care unit providing inpatient care. Symptoms can often be managed at home but sometimes a hospital admission is required for symptom management. Patients require a doctor’s referral for admission to a palliative care unit.
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How do you access Palliative Care?
There are a number of ways palliative care services can be accessed.
Palliative care services may be discussed with patients at any time during the course of their illness. A health care professional, often a General Practitioner or hospital doctor may talk to patients about palliative care as an option for ongoing professional care and support. With a patient’s permission, health care professionals may refer to a specialist palliative care service when they feel there is a need for further assistance in dealing with the effects of an illness.
Patients may access palliative care directly by contacting their local community palliative care service.
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When does Palliative Care begin?
Patients and their families may require different levels of supportive care or symptom management at different times. Individuals’ responses to life limiting illness vary and people with the same illness may have different needs. Some palliative care may be considered useful in the early stages of an illness but needs might change as the disease stabilises and palliative care services might be reduced or ceased until a further need arises. If patients feel that their illness is preventing them from doing what is important to them or preventing them from achieving their goals, it may be helpful to speak with a health professional - local community palliative care services are able to assist in this area.
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Is Palliative Care only for people with cancer?
No. Palliative care is available for all people facing life limiting illnesses.
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What is Gandarra?
Gandarra Palliative Care Unit is part of Ballarat Health Services. The service commenced in 1996 and the present purpose built facility was opened in May 1999. Gandarra is a nine bed unit. Staff and volunteers are trained in the provision of palliative care. The concept of total health care embraces the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of patients and their families.
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Where is it situated?
Gandarra is located at 102 Ascot Street Sth, Ballarat.
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Who works there?
Key staff members include:
Dr David Brumley, Clinical Director
Dr Greg Mewett, Palliative Care Physician
Maree Kewish, Nurse Manager
Karen Eden, Volunteer Coordinator
Clare Brennan, Pastoral Care Coordinator
Enquiries or visits to Gandarra by those who may need palliative care in the future, their family or carers, are welcome.
Primary reasons for admission are:
symptom management
end stage care
respite care
Discharge home may be planned together with a patient’s general practitioner and home care services e.g. Ballarat Hospice Care Inc, where appropriate.
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What is the role of volunteers?
Volunteers play an important role at Gandarra. They welcome visitors, help with meals and assist patients and families in various ways, as required. Gandarra volunteers also tend to the gardens surrounding the unit. All volunteers have received training in palliative care.
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What role do patients’ families and friends play?
Family and friends are always welcome and are encouraged to assist in the care of patients if they wish to do so. A kitchen in the unit may be utilised by family and friends to prepare snacks or special meals. When it is appropriate, overnight accommodation is available in the unit for family and friends.
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What are the visiting hours?
Visiting Hours: 10.30 am – 8.00 pm. Patients may request a rest period during the day and visitors are requested to take this into consideration.
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What are the contact details?
Gandarra Palliative Care Unit
Ballarat Health Services
102 Ascot Street Sth
BALLARAT 3350
Ph: 5320 3895
Fax: 5320 3763
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