Albany Community Hospice our support Coordinator provides support to the Guests, the Carers and their Family and Friends.

Our Support Coordinator touches base to help our guest and carers to explore what needs they may have ranging from physical, financial, emotional, social to spiritual. Sometimes there can be challenges with family dynamics and issues that families may wish to address while their loved one is still present.

We support the guest and family to explore their support networks, the people, places and commitments that they have in their lives to see the community they belong to. We encourage them to allow themselves be nurtured at their time of need and assist in facilitating use of the family and community resources available.

Our families are provided with time discuss the processes occurring as well as publications to assist them in their preparations for the death of their loved ones and support for their loss and bereavement journey.

Following the death of our guests the support Coordinator continues the Hospice support to their loved ones. We check in with families who may be experiencing challenges ongoing and support them to access services. We send our condolences from the Albany Community Hospice Family following their loss and we catch up with families in person at our quarterly Memorial Day reflective service.

Carers Charter

Albany Community Hospice values and recognises the important role of carers as key partners in the delivery of high quality care. 

As per the Carers Recognition Act 2004 a carer is defined as a person who provides ongoing care, support and assistance to a person with disability, a chronic illness (which includes mental illness) or who is frail, without receiving a salary or wage for the care they provide.

 Albany Community Hospice is committed to supporting carers through inclusion and responsiveness as per the Carers Recognition Act. We support the four principles of the Western Australian Carers Charter:

•  Carers must be treated with respect and dignity. 
• The role of carers must be recognised by including carers in the assessment, planning,  delivery and review of services that impact on them and the role of carers. 
• The views and needs of carers must be taken into account along with the views, needs and best interests of people receiving care when decisions are made that impact on carers and the role of carers. 
• Complaints made by carers in relation to services that impact on them and the role of carers must be given due attention and consideration. 

A carer who believes we have not met our obligations in the Carers Charter should firstly raise their concerns directly with the Clinical Hospice Manager.  

If the matter is not resolved carers may wish to contact the Health and Disability Service Complaints Office (HaDSCO). 

HaDSCO is an independent statutory authority that provides an impartial resolution service for complaints about Western Australian health or disability services. Visit the HaDSCO website for more information.