Greater need for hospice care

"A project like this does not happen overnight." Clare Randall, hospice chief executive

Horowhenua’s rising older population has prompted the need for a new hospice care centre.

Arohanui Hospice has opened a centre in Levin, Horowhenua – a district that makes up 30 per cent of its patients.

The hospice has set up a base for clinics there, but does not yet have plans for beds.

Hospice chief executive Clare Randall said it only had 10 beds in Palmerston North and the majority of its care takes place in people’s homes.

The hospice has about 800 patients a year, with about 290 from Horowhenua. About 220 people could be patients at any one time.

Now, Levin has its own hospice centre, which will offer clinics, bereavement support and temporary day care to allow family carers to have some respite.

Getting the new centre established had taken years of planning.

‘‘A project like this does not happen overnight,’’ Randall said.

The hospice is partly funded by the Government, but 45 per cent of its funding comes from the community.

It has to raise more than $2.5 million a year to stay a free service.

Arohanui Hospice Service Trust chairman John Freebairn said the hospice’s services had expanded to the point where it needed its own building in Horowhenua.

‘‘The number of people needing palliative care here is higher than other areas.’’

He thanked the people Horowhenua for their help.

‘‘As with all hospices, the support of the community has been vital to the success in this area.’’

Horowhenua mayor Michael Feyen said it was an ‘‘absolutely fantastic achievement’’.

‘‘We don’t know when we need these type of care.’’

He too noted the increasing need for palliative care. of

PHOTO: MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ Two-and-a-half-years after being rescued, Roger Herd, left, meets Ian Gilchrist to thank him for saving his life.

PHOTO: MURRAY WILSON/FAIRFAX NZ Clare Randall, chief executive and John Freebairn, chairman of the hospice service trust, at the newly-opened Levin centre.