You are part of this caring North Shore community. Volunteer, donor, bequestor, staff member, brave story-teller. Thank you.

March 2019

When Dr Eugenia Romboli worked as a General Practitioner in Barcelona, she saw a lot of patients with symptoms that were not being resolved. Motivated by the wish to relieve people’s suffering, she specialised in palliative medicine and is now Harbour Hospice’s Medical Leader.

Thanks to your ongoing generosity in helping to bridge the gap between health board funding and the cost of providing palliative care, Harbour Hospice is well resourced with six doctors on staff.

“We are very aware that we are not curing patients, but the small things we do can help make life better,” Eugenia says. “We try to ease the journey for our patients so they can concentrate on their important things.”

As medical treatments improve, patients are living longer with life-limiting illnesses and we are pleased to say that many are seeking hospice care earlier.

Small things making patients’ lives better

The longer we have patients in our care, and the more specialised we become, the more need we have for medications and medical supplies such as dressings, syringes and batteries for pain pumps. These items alone cost Hospice over $2,000 a week.

By helping Hospice buy essential medical supplies, you can help patients in your local community to live every moment with dignity, compassion and comfort.

Please consider making a gift today so we can continue giving our patients the best care possible.

Our doctors support patients in the North Shore inpatient unit, at home, and even in North Shore Hospital, reinforcing the palliative care provided by the hospital’s doctors. Working as a tight-knit team, our doctors ensure they all know what is going on with every patient, to ensure their patients’ care is as seamless and personal as possible.

Jan Nichols

Caring for your growing community at home and in Hospice

Harbour Hospice wraparound care on the North ShoreJuly 2017 to June 2018

Last year you supported Harbour Hospice to provide care to 711 patients in the North Shore community.

So far this year referral numbers have increased by 9%.

2018 was a monumental year which saw the creation of the Harbour Hospice Trust to serve the communities of North Shore, Hibiscus Coast and Warkworth Wellsford.

The merger of Hibiscus services with North Shore and Warkworth Wellsford has been an enormous undertaking and I want to thank you for your continued support as we have refined roles within the new organisation, introduced new services and moved shops. All while continuing our everyday mission of providing skilled and compassionate care to more and more people in our local communities.

Over the last six months, referrals to Harbour Hospice have increased by close to 9%. This means, with your continued support, we are on track to care for more than 1200 people this year across the region.

One patient may receive care from several of our teams as we support their medical, practical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. Many of our patients are troubled by complex symptoms, especially in the early stages of their diagnosis, and benefit enormously from the expertise of our doctors. I am very pleased that we are profiling our Medical Leader, Dr Eugenia Romboli, in this edition of Hospice Matters.

Specialist palliative care doctors are becoming a rare breed and we are fortunate that those on our team are not only highly skilled, but are also deeply compassionate and committed to the comfort and wellbeing of our patients.

As Eugenia says, our doctors try to ease the journey for our patients so they can concentrate on the things that are important to them.

Thank you for your commitment to supporting the work of our doctors and helping people in your community enjoy more moments free of pain and other troubling symptoms.

Yours sincerely

Jan NicholsChief Executive

Your Hospice Matters Harbour Hospice 2

711PATIENTS/ FAMILIES

supported

Aged 65 years and under

Aged 66-74 years

Aged 75 and over

Cancer Diagnosis

Non-Cancer Diagnosis

71%

21%

54%

26%

20%

“We are there for patients with complex, specialty needs and we have patients very early in their diagnoses who can have quite a lot of symptoms,” Eugenia says. “We become their guide for what to do, and we help them understand what is happening and why the complications affect them.”

Eugenia says the doctors must be flexible enough to change their day’s schedule so they can spend more time with a patient who is facing complications or needs emotional support.

A doctor may also arrange an urgent appointment with an occupational therapist, dietician or other specialist to provide whatever treatment is most effective in managing symptoms such as pain, nausea and shortness of breath, seizures and difficulty with swallowing. Whatever therapy they advise, the doctors try to ensure that transitions between services are streamlined and that their primary care team is kept informed.

“Sometimes our intervention is only for a moment, but if that means someone has a good week, then we’ve done our job,” Eugenia says.

You bought new recliners!

Continued from page 1

Last November we asked you to help us buy new recliner armchairs for the North Shore inpatient unit.

Our patient Glenn Griffin, who spent time in the unit so the

doctors and nurses could bring his pain under

control, told you how good it felt to get out of bed and in a comfortable chair with no pressure points. Sadly, Glenn passed

away not long after he and his family so generously shared their story.

Thank you for your big-hearted

response!

We are there for patients

with complex, specialty needs.

Glenn asked for your help to buy 12 new recliners to replace our worn-out armchairs, and your big-hearted response amounted to more than $52,000 in donations. Thanks to you we can now start replacing the old, flaking armchairs with extra-wide, soft and cosy recliners that are easy to get in and out of, and continue to be able to care for patients staying in the North Shore inpatient unit.

Glenn’s wife Debbie says Glenn was extremely private and his willingness to share his story showed how keenly he wanted to repay the care and compassion he received from Hospice.

“Glenn would have been over the moon to know that people gave so much, and so proud that he was able to help.”

Thank you for caring and for giving many people like Glenn and his family the comfort and relief of a soft, cosy armchair for years to come.

Your Hospice Matters Harbour Hospice 4

Rapid Labels’ culture of caring /

Few of us would choose to spend Christmas Day in the Hospice Inpatient Unit rather than our own home, but sometimes there is no choice. That is why we are so grateful to the kind people at Rapid Labels, who sponsor the annual Christmas lunch for patients, families and staff in the North Shore IPU.

Since 2004, the company has made a donation to Hospice in lieu of Christmas gifts to their clients and suppliers. Rapid Labels’ donations over 15 years add up to tens of thousands of dollars, but more importantly, they have given our patients the priceless gift of knowing their community cares.

Operations manager at Rapid Labels, Deb Hannon, says the staff are avid supporters of Hospice’s work and helping the community goes hand in hand with the company culture. “We value the service Hospice offers, in particular the end of life care, and we believe it is important to support such a great cause,” she says.

Trees of Remembrance /

Every year you give to the Hospice Trees of Remembrance and support people in your community for whom a life-limiting illness does not take a break for Christmas.

In 2018 you opened your hearts and gave $71,500 towards palliative care for Harbour Hospice patients in the North Shore community.

The teams at Farmers stores on the North Shore inspired customers to give $49,000, either as donations or by purchasing Hospice Christmas Baubles. The full $10 of every bauble purchase went directly to the store’s local hospice, ensuring funds stayed in your community.

At Trees of Remembrance in other sites around the North Shore community, shoppers donated over $22,000.

We are deeply grateful to the volunteers who gave their valuable time to staff the trees; to the Farmers teams at Albany Home, Albany, Glenfield and Takapuna (North Shore) and Silverdale (Hibiscus); and to staff and management at Albany Westfield, Countdown Barry’s Point, Devonport Ferry Terminal, Glenfield Mall, Milford Shopping Centre, PAK’nSAVE Albany, Smales Farm and Takapuna Library.

Front UP /

The Front UP for Hospice challenge, completed in November, brought out North Shore’s inner exhibitionists to raise $39,000 for palliative care services in your community.

Harbour Hospice partnered with Harcourts Cooper and Co to present this fun, amazing-race styled event for the third year running. Front UP involves groups competing over several months for the title of best fundraiser, followed by a day of crazy challenges in secret locations across the North Shore.

Many thanks to our brilliant event partners Harcourts Cooper & Co and sponsors: Vodafone New Zealand, Smales Farm, Auckland Transport (e-cars), Big Street Bikers, The Better NZ Trust - Leading The Charge, More FM Auckland 91.8, Cube, Mitre 10 Mega Glenfield, Resene Colour Shop, Ecostore and Columbus Coffee Smales Farm.

Harbour Hospice CEO Jan Nichols and the Farmers team. Funds raised in Hibiscus Coast and North Shore will be used for hospice services in the community in which they were given.

Staff at Rapid Labels love sharing the Christmas spirit with Hospice.

NEW Entertainment Books out now /

Enjoy 2-for-1 and up to 50% off offers, and deals for travel, hotel accommodation, family activities and much more. Plus, 20% of proceeds from every membership sold goes towards supporting Harbour Hospice patients and their families.For pre-orders visit www.entertainmentbook.co.nz/orderbooks/9647z5. Or from 8th April, pay and collect your book at any of our 16 Harbour Hospice Shops. Visit www.harbourhospice.org.nz for shop locations.

Browns Bay schoolgirl Amelie Wells has given hair ties a new twist, making and selling fabric scrunchies to fundraise for her local hospice service.

In one school term, the 11-year-old’s sewing and entrepreneurial skills raised over $600 for Harbour Hospice services in the North Shore community.

Five years ago, when Amelie was six and her sister Tilly four, Hospice took care of their father and Amelie has always wanted to say thank you.

“Hospice is a wonderful charity and they supported my family and looked after my Dad when he was sick,” says Amelie. “I have my own sewing machine so decided to put my sewing skills to good use.”

It’s a family affair as Tilly and Grandma Jane help with cutting, and Mum Sarah hand sews the scrunchies closed. Sarah says she also picks out the fabric for Amelie because “if she was let loose in the material shop she’d buy the whole store”.

Amelie first offered the scrunchies to fellow students at Bays School of Dance for a gold coin donation. They proved so popular that she soon started charging two dollars each, and now sells them at Pinehurst School. At the last sale she had to resort to taking orders from eager shoppers.

Amelie shows her gratitude with scrunchies

Amelie raised over $600

for Harbour Hospice

Many thanks to the Charitable Trusts that play a vital role in helping meet the challenging funding shortfall we face every year. Many of these Trusts have been supporting Hospice for decades.

Special thanks to the following featured Trust partnerships - The David Levene Foundation, Pub Charity Limited, The Lion Foundation and The Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment Trust & Estate of Ernest Hyam Davis. Their continuing generosity has aided the comfort of thousands of patients and their families over the years.

And thank you to our most recent grant funders:Pub Charity Limited gave $200,000 and The Lion Foundation gave $50,000, to fund essential operating costs.Estate of Ernest Hyam Davis & Ted and Mollie Carr Endowment Trust gave $30,000 to pay the lease on the Ellice Road Shop, so more shop income could go directly towards patient care.Lottery Community Fund supported our counselling services.North and South Trust and Maurice Paykel

Charitable Trust funded syringe drivers for effective pain management.Four Winds Foundation helped our clinical team train other health professionals to provide excellent palliative care in the community.Constellation Communities Trust supported strong leadership for our nursing team. Ara Lodge No. 348 Irish Constitution helped us support patients who face financial hardship.North Shore Presbyterian Hospital Trust supported spiritual care for patients and families. Milestone Foundation helped us provide nursing care in the North Shore Inpatient Unit. New Zealand Community Trust contributed to our volunteer support services. Hasbro funded an ipad and toys for children who are patients or part of the families in our care.Charles Rupert Stead Trust paid for a laptop to keep our educators connected. Dragon Community Trust and BlueSky Community Trust strengthened our support for Asian patients and families, and for grieving families. A K Franks Charitable Trust funded dictaphones for our life review volunteers.

Trusts’ generosity keeps lights on

friends, family or colleagues together to enjoy a ‘comforting cuppa’. We have a fantastic FREE pack we can send you to help with your fundraising.- ‘Add a Dollar‘ at the checkout when shopping at your favourite local supermarket.

To register your support or to receive your free Hospice Cuppa pack contact Jenna Tuuta on 09 486 1688 today.

Your Hospice Matters Harbour Hospice 6

The North Shore Golf Tournament has been a fixture on the local golf calendar for 20 years, and some golfers have never missed a year.

This year the tournament will be held on Thursday April 4 at the North Shore Golf Club in Albany, with teams of four teeing off at 12.30pm in either Stableford or Ambrose competition, therefore allowing the tournament to cater to golfers of all abilities.

Previously organised by enthusiastic golfers, notably Neil Crawford and the late Ross Finlayson, then by the Milford Rotary Club, the tournament is now run by Harbour Hospice. All proceeds support the care of people in the North Shore community who are living with a life-limiting illness.

Fundraising Coordinator Jenna Tuuta says the 27-hole North Shore Golf Club is the ‘Rolls Royce’ of golf courses and Hospice is grateful for the use of such a stunning venue. With Kiwibank Business Banking as a major sponsor, award-winning tournament organiser PaR n.z. managing the event and Golf Warehouse providing the prize table, there is plenty to look forward to.

Don’t miss out on this special day. Register your team now at www.parnz.co.nz/tournaments/ or, for more information, contact Nanette on 021 639 649 or nsevents@harbourhospice.org.nz

Charity tournament on the Rolls Royce of golf courses

4thA P R I L

13-19thM A Y

You can help us to help others by lending a hand to raise valuable funds and awareness for Harbour Hospice.

Suzanne McFadden has been a regular Hospice Cuppa host and her gatherings have involved many of the women in her Whenuapai neighbourhood.

About 60 attended Suzanne’s Whenuapai High Tea for Hospice; aged from 8 to 80, the guests included three sets of grandmother, mother and daughter. A raffle and a fun quiz about women, beautiful food and great company, and a fantastic fundraising total of $1370 for Hospice definitely add up to a successful Cuppa!

Here are a few ways you can show your support this Awareness Week:- Spare a couple of hours to ‘shake a bucket’ for your local Hospice. We are aiming to have more collectors than ever before, so please keep an eye out for them and give generously. - Host a Hospice Cuppa. A great excuse to bring

Hospice Awareness Week May 2019

Your Hospice Matters Harbour Hospice 7

Nobody understands the importance of time more than someone who is nearing the end of life. Time is also important if you are considering a donation to Harbour Hospice, as the end of the financial year is approaching and time is running out on tax deductible donations.

As an individual you can claim a 33.33% tax credit for all donations over $5 you make to an approved donee such as Harbour Hospice*. A tax credit reduces the amount of tax you have to pay. Your donation today will benefit people in your community

by ensuring Hospice can continue providing compassionate care; and it will benefit you by taking advantage of available tax credits.

As the need for palliative care increases in your community, we will help more and more people by providing respite care in the safe and welcoming environment of a Hospice Inpatient Unit – but we need your help to make this possible.

* Please contact your tax advisor or accountant for more information.

Tax deduction rewards your generosity

When Lesley Ingham updated her will last year, she included a gift to Harbour Hospice, knowing first-hand the impact her bequest could have.

Lesley recently celebrated nine years working as a fundraiser for Hospice, and says she is happy knowing her future gift will help ensure the service is available for her children and grandchildren.

Lesley says she saw the difference Hospice could make 14 years ago, when her mother, Pat, was dying of congestive heart failure.

“Mum was in hospital and she was moved into a private room, which she called the waiting room,” Lesley says. “She had such a strong faith that she wasn’t afraid of dying, but she desperately wanted to be at home.”

With support from Hospice, Pat was able to return to the comfort of her own home, with her family and familiar things around her.

Lesley says: “We wouldn’t have had the confidence to look after Mum without Hospice’s help. The nurses came and went, and without any fuss they took care of the medical details so we could just be with Mum.”

Lesley says her four children and their families are the main beneficiaries of her will and she thinks

they would approve of her leaving a gift to Hospice, which

gave such compassionate care to both their maternal and paternal grandmothers.

Some people, like Lesley, make a Gift in Will because they have been personally touched by Hospice and they want to give back, others because they have seen the difference Hospice makes in their community.

Contact us for more information, including the impact your gift could make. There is no obligation and all enquiries are treated in the strictest confidence. We cannot provide legal or financial advice but we would be happy to hear from you, answer questions and provide you with further information.

Call Planned Giving Coordinator Jo Eve on 486 1688 or email jo.eve@harbourhospice.org.nz

A gift in your will provides Hospice care beyond your lifetime

“We wouldn’t have had the

confidence to look after Mum without

Hospice’s help.”

Your Hospice Matters Harbour Hospice 8

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Please accept my donation of:

Post this form to: Harbour Hospice North Shore, PO Box 331129, Takapuna 0740

I wish to make my payment by:

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Other ways to donate:Phone: North Shore (09) 486 1688Online: Safely and securely at www.harbourhospice.org.nzGifts $5 and over are tax deductible.

Will you help us buy the medications and supplies our patients need to give them relief from pain and other troubling symptoms?

$

Please send me information about:

Joining our Friends of Hospice Club through monthly giving

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P.S. Last year North Shore Hospice was renamed, and is now called Harbour Hospice. However the same Hospice services still provide care and relief as before. Your gift today will directly benefit patients in your local community.

As doctors working in palliative care, we are very aware of the privilege of being with someone during this stage of their life and deeply grateful to you for giving so generously to support our work.

We are pleased that more patients are seeking care from Harbour Hospice earlier in their diagnosis, as this means we can do more to help them manage symptoms, such as pain that prevents them from sleeping, or shortness of breath that stops them enjoying simple activities.

However, the longer we have patients in our care, the more medicines and medical supplies we need to provide relief from these troubling symptoms. Essential items such as medications, dressings, syringes and batteries cost Harbour Hospice more than $2,000 a week.

Will you help us buy the medications and supplies our patients need to give them relief from pain and other troubling symptoms?

Complex symptoms need costly medicines and medical supplies.

Can you help us buy the supplies we need to give

our patients the best care possible?

The longer we have patients in our care, the more medical supplies we need to provide relief from troubling symptoms. Will you help us provide this relief?

Thank you for so generously supporting our work,

Dr Eugenia RomboliHarbour Hospice Medical Leader