Care costs Anam Cara

Report reveals financial challenge

NOT- FOR- PROFIT palliative care provider Anam Cara says it is a challenge to remain financially stable.

The admission comes in the hospice’s annual report, which reveals it provided end-of-life care to 73 people, 172 cases of overnight care and 883 days of accommodation to carers in 2016-17.

Anam Cara says its 2016-17 financial loss was due to other Greater Geelong organisations providing “more competitive” accommodation for carers.

At Anam Cara’s 2016 annual general meeting treasurer Colin Edmondstone predicted the organisation would return a $26,000 profit in 2016-17.

But financial results show it lost $7129, following a $104,209 loss in 2015-16.

“The main factor contributing to the (2016-17) loss was attributed to income from carer accommodation being lower than expected due to there being more competitive services being offered in the greater Geelong region,” Mr Edmondstone said in the report.

Anam Cara’s 2016-17 income includes $253,000 from trusts and foundations, $116,361 from donations and $71,829 from fundraising.

Mr Edmondstone predicts Anam Cara will achieve a $20,430 profit in 2017-18.

Anam Cara chair Diana Taylor said the level of care provided last financial year proved the organisation was viable. But Ms Taylor would not reveal how much of the organisation’s income comes from philanthropists or community donations.

“Financial sustainability remains a challenge for Anam Cara, a challenge we continue to work towards overcoming,” the report says.

Ms Taylor is not sure if Anam Cara will receive a portion of the $10 million one-off palliative care fund, announced following the euthanasia debate in State Parliament. She said the group had requested funding as part of the 2017-18 State Budget.

In 2016 Anam Cara was given $5 million by the Turnbull Government to build another palliative care centre for the region and $120,000 from the State Government to lead a 12-month project to improve care across the region.

It is not clear if Anam Cara will move from its base in Myers St, Geelong to the new hospice once it is built.

Anam Cara provides lowcost bed and breakfast accommodation for families with a sick relative receiving treatment at city hospitals as well as palliative care and overnight care. The organisation has more than 70 volunteers and has supported 16,000 people in the past 10 years.