Lake Taupo Hospice & Covid 19

‘Living Every Moment’ Newsletter           Volume 2         Autumn 2020                      Lake Taupo Hospice Newsletter. Vo

Lake Taupo Hospice & Covid 19
 As we face COVID-19 together, the health, safety and wellbeing of our people remains our top priority.
 At Lake Taupo Hospice we are endeavouring to ensure that continued quality palliative care services are delivered to
 our community.

 Hospice services remain in place and are recognised as a designated essential service. Our nurses are changing the way
 they work to ensure adherence to minimising the spread of Covid19 with keeping contact to a minimum.

 Patients currently under our care are receiving phone calls from our team and will be assessed constantly to assess when
 physical home visits are required. These visits WILL occur as required. Our nurses are well aware of infection control
 procedures and have the relevant PPE available to them which will be stored in their vehicles should they be required at
 any stage. Please be assured, our team is working as usual and are available as always – our phones are attended and our
 out of hours number 0800 920 044 remains active and attended, as does our 24 hour access to palliative care physicians.

 All our volunteers are currently not able to work for us unless absolutely necessary for an essential service. This pertains
 to equipment deliveries should they be urgently required. All of our operational and retail teams are no longer based
 at Izard Hospice House and Izard Hospice House is closed to all visitors unless by invitation from the clinical team for an
 essential visit. Both retail stores are closed until further government notification.

 We are endeavouring to contact as many of our staff and volunteers as possible by phone. This may take a little time as
 we have such a wonderfully large number of volunteers. Some have been contacted already and our intentions are to
 check in each and every one to make sure they are safe and well during this challenging time. Please remember to follow
 all national instructions for Level 4 Covid-19 requirements, help flatten the curve and prevent the spread of the virus. It’s
 the only way to stop this pandemic.

 What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is a coronavirus; these are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or
 humans. This new virus and disease were unknown before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December 2019.

 How does COVID-19 spread? COVID-19 is a droplet spread virus, this means that extra attention is required by each of us
 to minimise its spread through the population. COVID-19, like the flu, can be spread from person
 to person. When a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes or talks, they may spread
 droplets containing the virus a short distance, which quickly settles on surrounding
 surfaces. You may get infected by the virus if you touch those surfaces or objects
 and then touch your mouth, nose or eyes.

 Close contact is defined as:
 Direct contact body fluids, Living in the same household, Two hours or
 longer in the same room (such as a waiting room), Seated within two
 rows on a flight, bus, or train for two hours or more and within one
 metre for more than 15 minutes (without PPE).

 Continued overleaf

2020 Events
All our fundraising events have been either cancelled or put on hold.
Although this has had a direct impact on our financial position, the
health and safety of our patients, volunteers, staff and wider
community is paramount. We will continue to review all initiatives over
the coming weeks/months and updates will be announced in due course.

Symptoms include;
Fever, Cough, Shortness of Breath which typically appear 2-10 days after exposure
*These symptoms don’t necessarily mean you have COVID19
Source: Ministry of Health; CDC

Helping the health care system to cope:
Wash your hands in soap and water for 20 seconds and drying them properly, ensuring sneeze/cough etiquette; that is cough
or sneeze into a tissue and dispose of it or cough/sneeze into your elbow. It is very important to maintain wherever possible
a two-metre physical distance from others. At this time, that means no handshakes, hongi, hugging or kissing when greeting
others socially. These measures are in place to flatten the curve which will see a reduced number of New Zealanders getting
sick, limit the amount of people who come into contact with the virus and slowing the spread.

Please visit www.covid19.govt.nz for the most up to date information. Stay safe and if you require any information in regard to
our services or have any questions that we may be able to help you with, please call us on 07 377 4252.

Ngā mihi,
Michele Thomas
CEO

 A word from Caren - our Clinical Manager
It’s over a year now since I started in the role of Clinical Manager here at Lake Taupo Hospice. What a year it has been!
The clinical team have been incredibly supportive as I have found my feet, I thank them profusely for this. The team’s
dedication to our patients and their families/whanau constantly astounds me. We have worked so hard this past year with
increasing number of patients and families receiving our care. We have ensured that our service maintains the high standard
of care which we are proud to provide. Thank you to the team of amazing equipment volunteers who have been busy all year
delivering our clinical equipment to patients in their homes. Their great positive attitude to helping us, often at very short
notice is very much appreciated. Help with this vital area of our service allows families to care for their loved ones at home,
where they want to be.

Fiona’s day programme on a Tuesday demonstrates the true essence of Hospice. We come together on Tuesdays as patients,
family, friends, volunteers and staff to enjoy each other’s company, share stories, laugh together, sometimes cry together,
always celebrating our philosophy of making the most of every day. A highlight of the year has been the Tuesday Club
costume entry to the 2019 Creative Catwalk event. The costume designing and production was a challenging yet an exciting
project for the group. Plenty of energy and enthusiasm was required and our costume model on the night walked down the
Catwalk with all of Hospice supporting her with pride! Lots of fun was had by all. Ofcourse, these sessions are on hold due to
the Covid 19 lockdown but we are looking forward to planning these sessions again once we are able to.

A highlight for Josie and the Family Support Services Team was the Remembrance Service held at Izard Hospice House in No-
vember. The theme of Seasons for this service was beautifully expressed due to thoughtful
planning by Josie. A wonderful afternoon shared with a stunning afternoon high tea
to finish the day.

Finally, the clinical team have a few useful tips for the upcoming Autumn season.
• Have fire places and chimneys cleaned and checked.
• Get your spouting cleaned.
• Boost your immune system. You can do this by drinking plenty of water,
• Washing your hands often!
• Eating nutritious foods.
• Get out your Slow Cooker and try a new recipe.
• Most of all be kind to yourself

Stay well and happy
Caren and all the Clinical Team

Self-care before you volunteer
I watched a man on television last night, he is having to give up his much-loved farm and family home in order to care for
and support his unwell partner. He said I’m looking after myself, eating good food and getting plenty of sleep, “I couldn’t
look after her if I didn’t.” What a sensible man I thought.

Self-care is a hot topic these days, but it is often poorly explained. We keep seeing it mentioned in self-help books or
magazine articles and yet it is difficult to know just how to add it to your daily life. It may seem wishy-washy or vague to
you. Or, maybe you aren’t convinced that you should practice regular self-care. So, what is self-care, and why is it so
important? Believe me there are many different self-care practices out there, and not all of them will suit everyone.

What is Self-care? Generally speaking, it is a term that covers just about anything you do to be good to yourself. In a
nutshell, it’s about being as kind to yourself as you would be to others. Partially it’s about knowing when your own
resources are running low, stepping back to replenish them rather than letting them drain away altogether, and integrating
self-compassion into your life in a way that helps prevent burnout.

However not everything that feels good is self-care, we can all be tempted to use unhealthy coping approaches like
alcohol, over eating, and risk taking. The difference between unhealthy coping mechanisms and self-care activities is that
self-care activities are uncontroversially good for you.

There are many benefits to self-care, the most obvious relate to mood and energy levels, however research shows wider
ranging benefits as well. Better productivity, improved resistance to disease, better physical health, enhanced self-esteem,
increased self-knowledge.

When you are being good to yourself, you might think you’re being selfish. The truth is, self-care gives you the resources
you need to be compassionate to others. It’s a bit like filling a bucket; you can’t fill someone else’s bucket it your own
bucket is empty. Autumn is here now, and amongst the new developments of the Covid 19 Pandemic, we need to think
about looking after ourselves, so we can look after our friends and families if we need to.

Take care before you volunteer.

Julie
Manager of Volunteer Services - Lake Taupo Hospice

‘Your mental health during Alert level 4’
We all have an important job to do while Aotearoa New Zealand is at COVID-19 Alert Level 4. Whether you are in your
physical isolation ‘bubble’ at home, or working to deliver an essential service, you are helping to save lives. It’s important
to take care of yourself – and that means your mind as well as your body. Remember your feelings are completely normal
– it’s understandable to feel sad, distressed, worried, confused, anxious or angry during this crisis.

Be strong and be kind (especially to yourself) – we’re going to get through this.
Wellbeing is a continuum and we’re likely to find ourselves at various points over the coming weeks and months. Lots of
useful information about wellbeing is available online through organisations including the Mental Health Foundation and
the Health Promotion Agency.

Wellbeing tips to help you feel good and get through:

Find ways to stay connected:
He waka eke noa – we’re all in this together. Remember you are not alone, it’s important that physical isolation doesn’t
lead to social isolation. Stay connected with the people who are important to you on the phone, through social media,
video chats or text.

Self-isolation doesn’t mean cutting off all communication - in fact, it’s more important than ever to talk and listen, share
stories and advice, and stay in touch with the people who matter to you. Organise a virtual coffee or lunch with your
friends or schedule a daily phone call with an elderly relative or neighbour.

Do things that make you feel good
Prioritise looking after your body and mind – we know what makes us feel good and what doesn’t. Remember what
worked for you in previous times of stress and try to recreate and repeat those feel-good factors. Get into healthy habits.
At times of crisis it’s important to give our minds and bodies what they need to stay healthy – good food, plenty sleep, fun,
exercise, mindfulness, music, relaxation, reading, nature, laughter, space, gratitude – whatever works for you.

Keep moving
Exercise helps your mind and body to release tension and stress; it energises you by releasing feel-good endorphins.
Find ways to move your body and your mood every day.

You can still go outside for a walk, run or cycle, as long as you stay in your ‘bubble’. You can continue to walk your dog or
pet on a leash when exercising, but make sure you maintain a safe distance from others to help avoid any close contact
with other people or animals.

Find ways and space to relax
Relaxation is especially important if you’re feeling stressed or anxious; finding things that help you breathe deeply, switch
off and recharge will make you feel better. Breathing deeply and slowly for just 60 seconds will help you feel calm.
It’s important to have a relaxing space to be in. If you can’t create a physical space use your imagination to create ‘head-
space’.

Be generous – think about what you can do for others
Giving helps us feel valued and connected – think about ways you can give your time, skills and knowledge to help others.
Assist other others who might need help and reach out to people who are alone.
Text a compliment to someone, share a recipe or book recommendation on social media, or call someone who might be
feeling lonely.

Stick to a routine
We cope better with stress when our lives have structure – routines keep us healthy. When our usual routines are upset,
it’s important to create new ones.

‘Your mental health during Alert level 4’ continued:

  Go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day, eat regularly, shower, change your clothes, get some fresh air, book
  in video-chats with colleagues or friends, do your chores and make sure you make time for fun.

  Moderate your consumption of (bad) news.COVID-19 is a global issue and the endless updates from news outlets and
  people on social media can be overwhelming. Notice how you feel and switch off when you need to.

  Remember all the good things in life that aren’t being reported!

  However, if you’re struggling and need to talk,
  free call or text 1737 to have a chat with a trained counsellor.
  They’re available for free, day and night.

  The Depression Helpline (0800 111 757)
  Healthline (0800 611 116)
  Lifeline (0800 543 354)
  Samaritans (0800 726 666)
  Youthline (0800 376 633)
  Alcohol Drug Helpline (0800 787 797)

  ‘Your mental health during Alert level 4’ was sourced from:
   https://www.health.govt.nz/

With your support we can continue
to support our patients and                                                            $
families/whanau.                                                                       $ VALUE OF DONATION OR            $20        $50      $100

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