With You Committed to Caring Winter 2016 Hotoke 2016

Home away from home for young children

Mary Potter Hospice became a home away from home for three young children when their mother spent her final days here.

When their mother Moreen was sleeping, Rohan (11), Moulik (5) and Elijah (4) would spend time playing and watching television at the Hospice. Their grandmother, Moreen’s mum Saras, said this gave her a chance to spend time with Moreen. “The boys were alright there. They were free to move around. Staff made it very easy for the boys – they were so good and helpful. They made the environment like a home environment for the boys to feel free and enjoy things. “They painted pictures, and made things for their mum, like paper planes. They could run to their mum when she woke up for a cuddle,” says Saras. During her final three nights Moreen’s room was set up so Saras and the boys could sleep with Moreen. “We wanted to make it like a home environment. Moreen wanted it to be like home. It was very nice to be close.” To make sure that visiting children are well looked after, a pool of on-call, trained ‘play volunteers’ has been set up by Mary Potter Hospice. Volunteers Mary Potter Hospice supports young visitors to come into the Hospice to look after young children the Hospice, providing ‘On Call Volunteer Play if they are visiting family or friends. Supporters’ and special play activities. The idea was conceived by a registered nurse at Pictured are brothers Rohan, Moulik and Elijah. Mary Potter Hospice, who also works with children around grief and loss, helping them to understand Moreen was only 35 when she died in May this year. what is happening and what they are feeling. Saras says the family are doing ok. “We are doing alright. We have to carry on. But from time to time The nurse has trialled using sock puppets to help I’m overcome.” children have conversations and has improved the children’s area in the family lounge and created activities for them. % 0800 MARY POTTER www.marypotter.org.nz

Wellington: North Wellington/Porirua: Kapiti Coast: 48—52 Mein Street, PO Box 7442, Newtown, 1a Prosser Street, PO Box 50089, 36 Warrimoo Street, PO Box 460, Wellington 6242 l P 04 801 0006 Porirua 5240 l P 04 237 7563 Paraparaumu 5254 l P 04 296 1283 F 04 389 5035 l E [email protected] F 04 237 0864 l E [email protected] F 04 298 3970 l E [email protected] Chief Executive Kia ora tātou, up the outside area at our Kāpiti base to create a more attractive place for patients and families who Sometimes people ask me if visit. There are more stories of how our staff and working at the Hospice is sad volunteers go the extra mile in this newsletter. or depressing. I guess it’s easy to make this assumption, but I We rely so heavily on our supporters to keep us believe it is an organisation that operating and we are very conscious that we do is caring and energetic. Our staff ask a lot. We are in constant need of volunteers and are passionate about helping donations. But all of you in our Wellington, Porirua people make the most of life. and Kāpiti communities continue to get behind us 200%. My heartfelt thanks to you all for your support. We will always do whatever we can to give people It means so much to the Board and staff, and most joy and comfort, whether they are at home, in aged importantly to our patients and their family or care or in the Hospice. It is a place where doing little whānau. things can make a very big difference. With very best wishes, We often have our volunteers to thank for doing those extra things, like preparing flowers to put Ria Earp on patients’ dinner trays at the inpatient unit in Chief Executive Newtown, or the Lion’s Club of Kāpiti who cleaned

Volunteers bring life to the page

“Every life story is so interesting,” says Andrea Buckland, a Mary Potter Hospice volunteer biographer based in Kāpiti.

Andrea was the runner up for the national ‘Volunteer in a Health Care Provider Service – Individual Category’ at the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards in June. Andrea is a highly skilled biographer who works with patients in their own homes to record their life story – capturing the essence of the person in their own words. Hospice occupational therapist Linda Miller said that Andrea has brought pleasure to many Andrea receiving her award in Parliament from patients and their families in her role as a volunteer Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Health. biographer. Around 40 biographies are recorded each year by “She has generously shared her myriad of skills the Hospice’s 15 or so biographers. They attend with other biographers and mentored new generic volunteer training first and begin in other biographers whenever needed,” said Linda. roles to become familiar with the Hospice and its Andrea says that she enjoys being part of both the values. Biographers-in-training are mentored by an biography team and the day unit in Kāpiti where experienced biographer, attend a monthly evening she also volunteers. supervision group, and an annual training day. “You meet people you wouldn’t usually meet Thanks to generous donors the Hospice is able and learn about history in such a personal way. to run the biography service, associated training Patient’s stories are a wonderful gift they leave and support, and publish the biographies. But the their families and most are proud they can create real gift is from the volunteers themselves who something so significant especially when they are dedicate many hours to listening and recording facing so many other challenges,” says Andrea. a person’s story. Keen rugby fan gets hands on Cup

As a keen rugby follower, Pat Cooper was thrilled to get his hands on the Rugby World Cup when it was brought to Mary Potter Hospice.

“Pat was delighted because he was a great rugby follower,” said his wife Val Cooper. “He followed the Hurricanes, the Wellington Lions, and also Canterbury because he was brought up in Christchurch.” But a bigger achievement by far, was the celebration of Val and Pat’s 60th wedding anniversary at the Val Cooper holds a photo of her and Pat inpatient unit at Mary Potter Hospice, just before he with the Rugby World Cup last year. passed away on 9 December last year. “I had volunteered at Mary Potter for years, and had “We had our 60th wedding anniversary in visited friends from time to time, but to experience November,” said Val. We had champagne and the it in practise was so good. It’s not the doom and foods he liked, with family and friends. It was a nice gloom place that you might have pre-conceived party. Pat was quite happy to achieve that milestone.” ideas about.” Pat was a patient in the Mary Potter Hospice service Val says that the Hospice was able to help them for about three years and soon staff would greet Val in many ways, mostly at home. Pat also published like a long lost friend. his memoirs with the support of the Hospice “The first time Pat went to the in-patient unit at Biography Service. Mary Potter Hospice (for respite care) he wasn’t When he went to the Hospice for the last time the sure what was in store and neither was I,” says Val. doctor was absolutely marvellous. It was such a “But it was like a second home after that. Everybody comfort. Mary Potter Hospice looked after his needs was so kind and caring and respectful.” at the end of his life.” Supporting our carers in the community Most of the patients in our service are living Carer Cafe: Carers of friends and family members in their own homes in our communities, with a life-limiting illness are invited to join our supported by our specialist community monthly carer morning and afternoon teas. Carers teams, and with dedicated family and can enjoy some time out and share experiences friends helping to care for them. with people in similar situations in a supportive environment, in Wellington, Porirua and Kāpiti. Patients in our communities can participate in our If you’d like to know more about our day day hospice programmes at our three community hospice services or to register, you can email bases in Newtown, Porirua and Kāpiti, but it’s [email protected] or call Day incredibly important that we can care for and Hospice Manager Jenny Sharp on 027 399 7749. support their family and friends who care for them, too. To help support carers, we’ve launched new services through our day hospice to offer respite, support and practical skills and knowledge to people who are caring for a friend or family member with a life-limiting illness. Care of the Carer: Educational workshops for carers that provide practical knowledge and skills for looking after themselves and the person they are caring for. These workshops are open to everyone free of charge, and available in Patients and volunteers Nancy, Sandra, Milada, Teresa Wellington, Porirua and Kāpiti. and Lori of the day hospice programme enjoying a © 2016 Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington, New Zealand. No reproduction without permission. No reproduction New Zealand. © 2016 Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington, coffee in the sun at Scorching Bay. Starlight Circle Street appeal hits a high note

The Starlight Circle is the new name of Mary Potter Hospice’s group of generous regular Wellington City Chorus and Wellington Batucada givers. Recently we were in your neighbourhood performed on Cuba Street to help fundraise for our knocking on doors and inviting people to be part of 2016 Annual Appeal raising over $700! the Starlight Circle. Those who have just signed up join our nearly 400 founding members of Starlight Circle. We have changed the name from Committed Giving to the Starlight Circle to reflect that people Uri and his owner Cheryl who sign up are stars, and help us to provide an helped out with our Street ongoing service which puts patients and their family Collection in May. More than 800 generous volunteers or whānau at the very centre of our service. helped raise $89,000, our best collection ever. Cuppa, anyone? Porirua festival We had a great day out at Creekfest in Porirua in March this year – we talked to the community about the importance of having an Advance Care Plan (ACP), and asked them to share memories with us of loved ones who had died.

Mary Potter Hospice Patron Lady Susan Satyanand serving previous patron Lady Norma Beattie a cup of tea, kickstarting our 2016 Hospice Cuppa campaign. Photo credit: Fairfax Media NZ/Dominion Post © 2016 Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington, New Zealand. No reproduction without permission. No reproduction New Zealand. © 2016 Mary Potter Hospice, Wellington,

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Mary Potter Hospice Freepost 3053, PO Box 7442, Newtown, Wellington 6242. Phone 0800 627 976 Win2016