Our guest speaker via Zoom this week, on Tuesday 22 September was Dr Katrina Recoche.
It was delightful to have 33 members in attendance including a Zoom novice - Rotarian Ray Manchester. Welcome Ray and thank you Margery for guiding Ray through the challenges of technology!
Katrina is an academic expert on palliative care at Monash University. She teachers and does research on Palliative and End of life Care and works in the Monash School of Nursing and Midwifery In this context she, teaches palliative and end of life care in the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and occupational therapy courses.
An experienced Palliative Care Nurse, Katrina is on the Australia National Palliative Care Committee and she is the Chair of their Conference organising committee
Katrina's aims for the evening were to be able to have Rotarians understand and be able to:
- Define palliative and end of life care;
- Outline the principles and models of palliative care;
- Identify palliative and end of life care on the Mornington Peninsula;
- Access information to help develop personal Advance Care Plans; and
- Access information about Voluntary Assisted Dying
While the subject matter was somewhat confronting Katrina explained things in clear easily understood language and her talk was extremely interesting. Our Club is fortunate to have been able to listen to such a gifted speaker.
From an individual point of view Katrina emphasised the need for people to make Values and Instructional directives that clearly outline their wishes at a later time when they may not be able to so do.
Appointing a medical treatment decision maker and support person are key decisions that require care, thought and attention.
Following Katrina's outstanding talk, all forms and further information can be found with the following link - http://www2.health.vic.gov.au/hospitals-and-health-services/patient-care/end-of-life-care/advance-care-planning/acp-forms
