A presentation on the sensitive topic of what happens to us when we approach death drew about 30 people to the Cathedral Hall in Adelaide. Source: The Southern Cross.
“Understanding Palliative and End of Life Care: A Catholic Perspective” reaffirmed the value and dignity of a person at every stage of their life, including the final chapter.
The evening held earlier this month was an initiative of the Adelaide Archdiocese’s Embrace Life program and Calvary Healthcare.
“When people understand what high-quality palliative care looks like, it helps them and their loved ones undertake their journey with less fear,” Mark McCarthy, regional director of Mission at Calvary Healthcare SA & NT, said.
The challenges of an ageing population, the current health crisis, ethical dilemmas and contrasting secular views on how to deal with end-of-life practicalities were all mentioned.
Kevin Hardy, deputy director, Clinical Services Palliative Care at Calvary North Adelaide Hospital, also spoke at the gathering.
Mr Hardy has worked as a palliative nurse for 27 years, including the past 10 years as a palliative care Nurse Practitioner, and shared his experiences of accompanying the dying.
The event included a video of a poignant patient journey from the “I Am Living | Talking about life before death” website.
Dr McCarthy said Calvary Healthcare sought to provide high-quality holistic palliative care, which includes symptom and pain management, psychological and emotional care, spiritual care and family support.
“People are afraid of suffering and holistic care makes a big difference,” Dr McCarthy said.
Adelaide Archdiocese Vicar-General Fr Dean Marin said promoting an understanding of palliative care was vital.
“I believe that if more people understood its value and positive approach in the face of suffering and death, they would not so easily think the VAD [voluntary assisted dying] is the only answer,” he said.
Embrace Life is an Archdiocesan initiative that promotes the sanctity and dignity of every human life — from conception to natural death. Grounded in Catholic teaching, it seeks to educate, support, and foster compassion around life issues such as abortion, euthanasia, and palliative care, while remaining non-political.
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Forum focuses on palliative care (The Southern Cross)
