VMCH looks abroad for holistic palliative care inspiration

Leaders at the Victorian aged care and disability services provider VMCH have been inspired by a recent international trip to Singapore where palliative and end-of-life care services are approached very differently.

The trip, organised by VMCH Board Director and Palliative Care Consultant Dr Natasha Michael, saw CEO Sonya Smart Board Chairman Julien O’Connell AO explore various palliative care services in Singapore. 

One of the most unique offerings was a day hospice service called Oasis@Outram, run by Singapore’s largest home hospice provider HCA Hospice Care. 

“It was an eye-opening experience. Oasis is about ensuring that you keep having memorable moments and that you’re not isolated at home. People are empowered to grow and develop new skills, experience new things,” Ms Smart said.

Attendance, transport, meals and activities are all free of charge. Notable activities include music therapy, art and craft, pet-assisted therapy, exercise classes and community outings. Meanwhile, it features an open bar, cinema, dental clinic and dedicated “Instagram walls” where families can take photos together. 

VMCH already provides specialised palliative care at O’Neill House in Melbourne. However, Ms Smart said the HCA Hospice Care approach comes from a different perspective to the traditional Australian viewpoint of death and dying. 

“We know around one in four Victorians who die each year do so without adequate access to palliative care. We also know there are thousands of people isolated at home receiving palliative care, or in hospital in a really medicalised way. Palliative care is sort of hidden away because no-one wants to talk about dying,” Ms Smart said.

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) is currently focused on deepening people’s understanding of palliative care during this week’s National Palliative Care Week. 

Their most recent National Palliative Care Community Survey reflects Ms Smart’s comments as 90% of Australians believe end-of-life planning is important yet only 40% have actually taken action to plan for death.

Throughout National Palliative Care Week, PCA is highlighting the real and growing need to educate and empower Australians about quality of life towards the end of life, including the importance of holistic palliative care. 

Ms Smart believes that this is an area the Government needs to invest in more to ensure community-based hospices like Outram can be sustainable in Australia. 

Last week’s Federal Budget saw a $25 million investment in the Comprehensive Palliative Care in Aged Care (CPiAC) program, providing an additional two years’ worth of funding. 

“It is expensive to run palliative care in Australia. O’Neill House, for example, is largely a fee for service-based model primarily through aged care funds. But it’s certainly not an attractive service for organisations that need to make it financially sustainable,” she said.

“VMCH contributes funds each year to keep this unique service available to older Victorians. We’d love to see more facilities like this created, to give greater choice and ensure people’s last experiences are filled with joy and shared special moments with family and friends.”