Remember Your Loved Ones with Our Shining Stars Appeal We are proud to introduce our new appeal called Shining Stars where people are invited to donate and dedicate a star in memory of a loved one. Explaining the inspiration behind this appeal, Waipuna Hospice Marketing and Fundraising Director, Sasima Pearce, says this initiative is about…
Rambling Rich – August 2023 Kia ora everyone, Winter is cracking along, and we have taken advantage of some drier days to get some extensive thinning and pruning of the grounds at Waipuna Hospice – it always looks a bit stark after pruning, but it’s great to know that by spring, things will be back…
The Privilege of Caring “I see it as a real privilege to be in this last phase of life with people, being able to do my bit to make it as good as possible for them.” Fieke Noteboom has been working at Waipuna Hospice for nearly five years as a Social Worker, helping patients and families…
A Light During My Darkest Days A story by Lisa Fowler Waipuna Hospice cared for us physically and emotionally, preparing us for the difficult journey of grief, loss, and bereavement. With your help, they can continue providing this vital support to people in your community. In 2008, not long before my birthday in August, my…
Story: Losing the Leader in the Family Losing someone who is a leader in the family is a dreadful loss. This is someone who tries their hardest to make everything okay for everyone, and when they are gone, they leave behind a hole that is impossible to fill. Life will never be the same for…
Rambling Rich – May 2023 Kia ora everyone, The clocks have gone back, and the extra hour in bed has been well and truly used up! Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year. The weather is usually not too bad, the trees change their colours by the second (McLaren Falls Park is…
Exploring virtual reality in end-of-life care We’re on a mission to offer therapeutic virtual reality experiences to Waipuna Hospice patients facing limited mobility because of illness, by purchasing two Virtual Reality (VR) headsets! Waipuna Hospice is committed to providing the best quality of life for those affected by terminal illness and bereavement. Why? Because we…
Quinoa the Comfort Bunny: A Cuddly Companion in End-of-Life Care Animal therapy is used globally to help people of all walks of life. For Waipuna Hospice, a unique service brings immense joy to patients and their families, in the form of our fluffy guest resident bunny – Quinoa. Quinoa’s human mother, hospice Physiotherapist Ann, speaks…
Facing loss alone. Facing a terminal diagnosis comes with difficult and varying emotions for both the patient and their whānau. The process is hard, no matter the circumstances, and for those who live away from family, an instant sense of loneliness and helplessness is unavoidable. For Lucy and Richard, this became their raw reality. We…
Rambling Rich – February 2023 Kia ora everyone, Well, we returned from a not-so-sunny summer break to an even wetter end of January than I have ever seen. As I write this, I see the Kaimais have had over half their annual rainfall in the last seven days! Waipuna Hospice is situated beside the Wairoa…