Great Southern Compassionate Communities

Palliative Care WA has released a new "You Only Die Once" online guide from which you can find a comprehensive suite of really informative resources including

• Advance Care Plan form
• Guidance on preparing an Advance Health Directive
• Enduring Power of Attorney guide
• Your Money Your Choice guide

This website is one of several resources that can be accessed through the “Planning Ahead Resources” section of the Compassionate Communities Toolkit.

When you hear the words “Palliative Care” do you assume that means care at the very end of life? If so you are not alone as that is a common misunderstanding.

In this month’s Better health, together video, WA Primary Health Alliance CEO, Learne Durrington chats to City of Albany Mayor, Dennis Wellington about our partnership in delivering the Compassionate Communities project.

The project, which targets communities in the Great Southern, is a whole of community approach to increasing awareness of end of life, and empowering people to live and die well, at home where possible.

Compassionate Communities is the approach we have adopted in delivering the Greater Choice for At Home Palliative Care initiative.

Compassionate Communities recognise that caring for one another during a health crisis or personal loss is not solely a task for health and social services, but it is everyone’s responsibility. It is an individual’s network, both formal and informal, that is essential to supporting quality end of life care at home and are most likely to exist when the carer or dying person is part of a community.

Local governments are often considered to be ‘closest to the people’ not only because of the range of services they provide for the community but also the effect of those services on community health and wellbeing. Some of the great practical examples as a result of our collaboration with the City of Albany include:

• The inclusion of Compassionate Communities principles in the 2018-2022 Public Health Plan
• The recognition and inclusion of End of Life as a priority area in the Age Friendly Charter
• An interactive art project delivered through the Vancouver Arts Centre to stimulate conversation within community about supporting one another to live well at the end of life
• In Memory of Ordinary Things – an exhibition that includes, a memory wall, storytelling and short film
• The commencement of the Community Connector position within the City of Albany and working with the Shires of Plantagenet and Denmark to implement network care models in those communities

To watch the full interview follow this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtrYTTnQU6s

Great Southern residents have until Friday 16th August to check out the beautiful Community Memorial Walls at the Denmark Community Resource Centre and the Albany Public Library.

The Memorial Walls celebrate heartfelt stories of loved ones who have died through photographs of often simple household objects. With over 60 images and stories displayed there is something for everyone young and old... don't miss these opportunities to spend some quiet time contemplating grief and the legacies we leave when we die.

Dying to Know in Denmark and Albany this year brought people together to share precious memories, honour their dead, dream of things they wanted to do before they die, watch a beautiful locally made short film about Fathers and Daughters and discuss death related topics that they are passionate about.

Feedback on the D2K program demonstrated that participants felt stimulated, nourished, safe and heartened by the opportunity to share their fears, pain and dreams within their communities.

Come along to the Denmark Community Resource Centre at 4pm on Thursday 8th August for the opening of the Memory of Ordinary Things exhibition.

The Denmark Community have shared their stories of ordinary things that spark beautiful and heartfelt memories of people who have died. By sharing their stories behind, and images of, these objects those memories are brought more vividly to life. The generous sharing of these stories can generate some deep community conversations about death, dying and loss.

Dying to Know Day is officially held on 8th August and if there’s anything that we need to learn about its how to look after someone who is approaching end of life AND how to look after ourselves during the process. If you are caring for somebody with a life limiting condition the odds are, at times, you feel you are on a roller coaster of emotions, confusion and possibly loneliness. Where can you turn to for help and guidance? Palliative Care WA has updated its “Palliative Caring” guide that is full of practical no-nonsense suggestions for not only looking after your loved ones but also how to look after yourself. To access the booklet click here: https://palliativecarewa.asn.au/wp-content/uploads/PalliativeCaringBooklet2019.pdf This booklet is one of several resources that can be accessed through the “Carers Resources” section of the Compassionate Communities Toolkit.

Call out to the Denmark Community to Share your story.

Do you have an everyday object that reminds you of someone special who has died? In Memory of Ordinary Things is your opportunity to share your stories.

What to do: Take a picture of the object against a plain background; Write a short memory (25 words max); Include the person's name if you like.

Email: a JPEG photo and memory to enquiries@denmark.wa.gov.au by Friday 2 August 2019

Or bring your object to: Denmark Library on Thursday 4 & 18 July 1-4pm and we will photograph it for you.

All submissions will be displayed on a memorial wall exhibition at Denmark CRC gallery opening on D2KDay 8 August 2019.

For more information contact Claudia Simpson, Community Development Officer, 9848 0300

Would you like to honour someone special that has died on a community memory wall at the Albany Public Library as part of Dying to Know Day in August 2019?

"In Memory of Ordinary Things!" is your chance to share your stories of someone special who has died through the memories triggered by ordinary objects.

Does that cup, pen or fishing rod have a tale to tell?

If you'd like to get involved all you have to do is take a photo of the object against a plain background, write a short memory (125 words max) and email the story and photo (jpeg) to the Albany Dying to Know Committee by 26 July to d2kalbany@gmail,com.

The memorial story board will be displayed on August 10th 2019.