Catholic Homes is an aged care facility which focuses on palliative care for people who are in the final months of their lives.
In a video interview with Archdiocesan Communications Office Content Producer Joshua Low, Catholic Homes Clinical Manager Natalie Joseph speaks about the benefits of palliative care.
“This is a home-like environment that families can visit the patients and spend as much time as they want in a comfortable setting,” Ms Joseph said.
“We focus on their physical well-being by having professional medical staff whenever they need care, as well as support them emotionally by being there for them to talk and listen to them.”
Ms Joseph said building a good relationship with the residents and their families, and being available to all their needs is vital in helping them through their final moments.
“A large part of our role is to be there for the conversations.
“Family can ask us questions they maybe feel that they could not ask in a hospital environment because things may have been too rushed,” she added.
“We also have pastoral care, the doctors are very much available, and the patient will feel secured knowing they have us to talk to. Talking is very important in palliative care.”
Ms Joseph explained that fear is the number one thing faced by a dying person.
“The fear of pain, being alone, being a burden to their family, fear of being alone or even the fear of the unknown.”
For those who seek the option of assisted dying, Ms Joseph said “speaking with the person, assure them they are not alone, sharing information that will benefit them and reassuring them works nine times out of ten in saving the person’s life and minimising the fear they may be facing”.