Even Hospice patients had misconceptions

By Kalena Zivkovich.

Even Hospice patients had misconceptions.

The word ‘Hospice’ generally has a lot of negative ideas attached to it. Even some of Mercy Hospice Auckland’s current patients had the common misconceptions that most have.

Peter Brennan, 56, from Avondale was first referred to Mercy Hospice Auckland in Ponsonby in February this year and like many others, his idea of what he thought a Hospice was, was very wrong.

“I thought it was a place where people went to die...I thought it was all doom, gloom and despair,” says Peter.

Having been a patient since February of this year, Peter said that his earlier misconceptions have now changed.

“What the hospice does is they enable and increase the quality of our lives.”

At one stage Peter, affectionately known as ‘Grumpy’ going to a public hospital 4 times a year for ten days – he certainly appreciates the difference in care Mercy Hospice Auckland gives.

“I can tell the difference a Hospice nurse makes...they emphasise quality and just give so much more of themselves that people will ever know.”

Peter is still living life to the full and is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Auckland.

“I’m a Uni student. I do one paper a semester. This is my third year,” he says. Although Peter says that it will take him ten more years to finish his degree, he says he has an edge over most other University students.

Aside from studying, Peter, a self-proclaimed hoarder, says he collects everything;

“I keep anything sentimental...I keep everything that means something to me,” says Peter.

Through the help of Hospice, Peter had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister John Key at the launch of Mercy’s Past, Present and Future art wall in May 2009.

Peter and his partner have also been able to experience many things including seeing Cirque De Soleil’s Dralion from the front row.

“I wouldn’t have been able to go without them. They organised the tickets, the car – everything. I’m really thankful,” says Peter.

On Wednesday November 4th, Mercy Hospice Auckland is holding their inaugural Strawberry Festival at QE II Square, Downtown Auckland. Servings of Strawberries and Ice cream will be sold for $5, along with Strawberry plants, and Hospice’s Christmas Tree Angels. All proceeds to go to Mercy Hospice, Auckland.

ENDS

Mercy Hospice Auckland provides a range of specialist community palliative care and hospice services for people facing life limiting illnesses, caring for them with the utmost professional skill, compassion and quality of service. They also offer support to family, friends and carers to help them cope with problems arising from the illness and to rebuild their lives afterwards.

All the services are offered free to patients and their families, regardless of age, ethnicity, means or religion if they live in the Auckland District Health Board area. Specialist inpatient care is also provided to people from Waiheke and the islands of the Hauraki Gulf. Services are provided 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The range of services includes:

• Specialist Care in the community

• Thirteen specialist inpatient beds

• Counselling and family, spiritual and cultural support

• Education and training

• Day Unit