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…
Dying with Dignity The importance of patient dignity in end-of-life care cannot be denied. The concept of dignity may be likened to that of love – important, widely understood, difficult to define, and something that can’t be taught in a black-or-white manner. At Waipuna Hospice, we believe respecting patient dignity and giving patients choices is…
The Philosophy of the Plant Ladies We all know ‘the plant ladies’, the ones who quietly come in and visit Waipuna Hospice twice a week to look after the plants in our offices. The plant ladies are actually a professional and friendly team from Living Décor. “Both Gary and I were secondary school teachers -…
Babbling Becky – November 2022 We’ve had a great few months since our last publication, though never without its challenges! Richard (our CEO) has taken a well-deserved break, and I have the privilege of stepping up to support our team. Some of you may know me well in the capacity of Director of HR &…
Hospice Is Where My Heart Is Trish Thorner is a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) at Waipuna Hospice. As a CNS, Trish’s role is all about coordinating a team of nurses and taking triage or emergency phone calls from patients and families. After working in palliative care for 15 years, hospice holds a special place in…
Rambling Rich – August 2022 Richard Thurlow, Waipuna Hospice CEO Hello all! It has been a while since I last wrote to you, and I want to start by saying thank you. Thank you for getting behind Waipuna Hospice over the last few months. It hasn’t been an easy time for anyone, but our community…
Death Doesn’t Always Go To Plan A story about Emma Frame’s journey with Waipuna Hospice. Death doesn’t always go to plan. However, thanks to your support Waipuna Hospice is there no matter what. Every dollar you donate helps us care for the terminally ill and bereaved in your community. Your support makes our care possible,…
Meet Andrea Our Fraser Street Store Manager Andrea has been the Waipuna Hospice Fraser Street Store Manager for four years. In what is often a busy and diverse role, Andrea has many reasons to love her role. “It’s hard to narrow down why I enjoy my work as there are so many rewarding aspects. The…
Forever Grateful, Forever in My Heart A Story by Nicki Everitt Waipuna Hospice was there for my family when we needed them the most. They took care of my mum, Stella, when she was battling pancreatic cancer, and later my family when we were dealing with the grief of losing someone so special. Mum’s journey…