Hospice West Auckland Announces Groundbreaking Palliative Care Initiative: He Whare Korowai – Home From Home

Hospice West Auckland is proud to announce the upcoming launch of a new service model in palliative care in New Zealand: He Whare Korowai – Home From Home. This innovative model will provide 24-hour care in a comforting, residential-style environment while preserving the strengths of community-based support and ensuring continuity of specialist palliative care.

Hospice West Auckland has long been recognised for delivering exceptional community-based care that enables patients to remain in the place they call home. However, there are times when 24-hour care is necessary, such as when patients require around-the-clock personal care, if the home environment isn’t suitable, or when the individual prefers not to die at home. For the past few years, patients requiring this level of care have been offered beds at in-patient units (IPU) outside of the West Auckland region, which can incur cost and logistical difficulties.

To address the accessibility and continuity of care issues, Hospice West Auckland is introducing He Whare Korowai – Home From Home - a locally-based, sustainable alternative that offers 24-hour generalist care from Registered Nurses and Healthcare Assistants in a home-like setting at Hospice House in Te Atatū. Importantly, patients will continue to receive care from their existing Hospice West Auckland community-based specialist palliative care teams, preserving the trusted relationships they are accustomed to.

The ground floor of Hospice House is being transformed to accommodate this new model of care, with renovations including the creation of a communal dining room and living space in a warm and comforting home environment. The facility will provide three patient beds, and whānau will be able to stay with their loved ones in-room. Outpatient services will continue to be offered at Hospice House.

Unlike the traditional IPU model which can be expensive to run, the Home From Home model is sustainable and uses the cohesive strengths of the Hospice West Auckland community team.

“This is an exciting and important new chapter for Hospice West Auckland,” says Dean Kelly, Chief Executive Officer of Hospice West Auckland. “We are making history in New Zealand’s palliative care sector by creating a truly integrated, culturally responsive, and sustainable model of 24-hour care. I am proud of our integrated Social Care, Medical, POI, Nursing and Rehabilitation teams in making this possible: a sustainable model to complement our existing services and best meet the needs of our West Auckland community.”

Hospice West Auckland is currently anticipating that He Whare Korowai – Home From Home services will commence late 2025.

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