Cancer Society support now on offer
Cancer patients and their families will no longer have to travel to New Plymouth to see someone from the Cancer Society.
Janine Luke-Taamaru, the supportive care co-ordinator for Taranaki, will now be based in South Taranaki once a week offering her guidance and support where it is needed.
‘‘My role is supporting families and their family member through the day-to-day challenges so they can focus on themselves getting well,’’ Luke-Taamaru said.
‘‘I think people are people so it’s about being able to give time and to stop and listen.’’
Luke-Taamaru has been in her role for more than two years, and been involved with social work for more than 20 years.
Now, on Wednesdays she will be based at the Te Ara Pae Trust building at 276 High St, Ha¯ wera from 10am-3pm. She will do local home visits too.
‘‘We have resources here, we have counselling in South Taranaki that we’ve co-ordinated, we have massage available in South Taranaki that we’ve been able to get up and running so it eliminates people having to travel to New Plymouth,’’ LukeTaamaru said.
‘‘And we’re always hoping to grow services in South Taranaki because it’s important that we’re able to provide support throughout Taranaki.’’
A lot of Luke-Taamaru’s role is linking people to other services that they may need.
‘‘I’m not the specialist in all of the services that are out there, but I know people who are.’’
Luke-Tamaaru is proud to now offer her support Taranaki-wide.
‘‘My area is: the northern end is Mo¯ kau and the southern end is Waverley.’’
If people aren’t registered with the Taranaki Cancer Society, Luke-Taamaru recommended giving her a call.
‘‘Normally it’s the conversation that creates the visit that creates the relationship that will create, maybe, a referral and then they’ll be able to access all the other things,’’ she said.
‘‘Referral to the service can be done by the individual, can be done by a family friend, can be done by a GP or oncology ward - it just means the person needs to give consent for that to happen.’’
If anyone is interested in getting in contact with LukeTaamaru email janine@taranakicancersociety.org.nz