Real Care Stories: Palliative

Faye’s Care Story

Mum needed me as a daughter, not as a nurse.”

Diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, Faye and her children decided it was important for her to remain at home so they could be in close contact, particularly with COVID-19 limiting the ability for hospital visits. Faye’s two daughters and her son shared her care, but were also juggling full-time work and their own families. CAREGiver Alicia was brought in to support the family and to provide care to Faye when her children couldn’t be there.

Paul’s Care Story

“They never lost sight of the fact that he was a person and not just a patient.”

As he neared the end of his battle with cancer, Paul was eager to pass away in his home. However, he was a tall, bed-bound man in his fifties, and his wife could not physically manage his care.

So, Paul’s medical team managed his pain and symptoms, and two of our CAREGivers took on the rest of his care. Paul’s CAREGivers – one of whom is a former palliative care nurse – visited twice per day to provide personal care to Paul and emotional support to his wife Katy.

It was only a couple of days between the time we received Katy’s enquiry and when Paul arrived home.

Here is Paul’s story, as told by Katy.

“My husband had terminal cancer and wanted to pass away at home. If it wasn’t for Karen and Mardie, Paul wouldn’t have been able to come home, and I will always be grateful for them for helping this to happen. He died with all his family around him and his favourite music playing on the stereo that he had built.

Karen and Mardie helped me take care of him in the last days of his life. They treated him with incredible kindness and humour, even though at times he was understandably not easy. It was important to me to have someone at the end of the phone in times of emergency. The kindness with which they treated him, and the support they gave me, made me feel less alone and less frightened.

They came for a couple of hours each day and made themselves available at night if I needed it but gave me the option of cancelling if I didn’t need the evening visit. Sometimes I needed the night visits and sometimes I didn’t, and they were very flexible.

They were very kind and gentle with my husband and joked with him and took an interest in him and listened with interest when he wanted to tell them things. They never lost sight of the fact that he was a person and not just a patient.”

Lois’s Care Story

“Lois felt comforted and, above all, safe.”

After forming a close bond with her CAREGiver Melanie during cancer treatment, Lois specifically requested for Melanie to provide her in-home palliative care. Lois required more care than Melanie could provide alone. So, based on her experience of caring for Lois, Melanie selected two other CAREGivers she knew Lois would connect with.

As well as working with Lois’s doctors, her CAREGivers were attentive to the little things Lois prided herself on – these included painting her nails and organising fresh flowers before visitors arrived. The care provided by Melanie and her team also alleviated some of the pressure on Lois’s son, Simon, who lived nearby.

Here is Lois’s story, as told by Simon.

“My late mother Lois was diagnosed with stage four cancer and was receiving chemotherapy for over three years. She was a very independent woman living by herself, with two sons abroad and one in Brisbane. As she was determined to retain her independent status, she enlisted the services of Home Instead initially to assist with transport to and from treatments and general house care.

Melanie Strydom was Lois’s care manager from Home Instead. From the very beginning and through her experience and understanding, she was able to tailor a package to suit Lois’s initial needs that was cost effective and very efficient.

As her cancer progressed, Lois made the decision to cease treatment and spend her remaining time at peace in her home in palliative care. Melanie – through consultation and agreement with Lois, her family and medical authorities – redesigned and formulated a 24/7 care package. Melanie included in her team two carers, Jan and Alice, whose compassion and care was outstanding; all three ladies truly bonded with Lois, understanding her needs. Lois felt comforted and, above all, safe.

Lois passed peacefully just as she wanted, at home on a bright sunny morning with the team and family present. Melanie, Jan and Alice were there for Lois and her family throughout and after her passing. We will be eternally grateful to them and the Home Instead wider family for the care and compassion they provided.”