The Need

Ready or not, death comes to us all. No matter the age, death seldom happens at the ‘right’ time.

For some, death comes swiftly and takes us unaware. For others it is a slow crawl toward the end of life. Whatever form death takes, the universal call is for a ‘dignified death’. Dignity will be as individual as each person. However, it is also universally acknowledged that each of us would wish to be surrounded by those we love.

It has become clear in recent times that community expectations and government funding policies have changed. In-home palliative care services are now seen as the way of the future.

People with a life limiting illness are faced with important life choices about their quality of care and the type of services and supports they require as they near the end phase of life.

For those who wish to die at home, this may be achieved with family members supported by skilled community palliative care nurses, clinicians, support workers and general practitioners. Mingary Care is committed to providing compassionate palliative supports to the Sunshine Coast community allowing the individual to experience holistic care at home.

Given the anticipated continued large population growth on the Sunshine Coast, coupled with an aging population and the vast array of medical treatments and interventions now capable of extending a person's life (though not necessarily its quality), the need for palliative care services to provide sensitive, dignified and humane care at the end of one's life is paramount.

Our experience in palliative care demonstrates that when symptoms of advanced illness are brought under tolerable control it is possible for the person to focus attention on the immediate present and realise the value in the life that remains. This cannot be achieved without the support of a team who acknowledge not only the capacity for suffering at the end of life but also the life-long human capacity for growth that exists for each dying person and their family.