IN-HOME palliative care demand has increased 18 per cent in Ballarat the past year.

Ballarat Hospice Care acting chief executive officer Sharon Moss said between 35 to 40 per cent of people across the region who chose to die at home could do so with palliative care – well above the state (27 per cent) and national (14) averages.

National Palliative Care Week is trying to spark more people to have conversations about end-of-life wishes in a bid for more people to have the choice so their physical and emotional needs are met and their dignity respected.

Ms Moss said Hospice had a multidisciplinary team of specialist health professionals and trained volunteers to support families in end of life care and after a death. She expected demand to grow more as awareness grew among an aging population.

Hospice’s $1 million appeal has reached the $600,000 mark to move to a larger $6 million purpose-built facility in Lucas.

Palliative Care Australia has made a particular focus on access to high-quality palliative care in residential aged care. About 75 per cent of Australians aged 65 years or older have used aged care services in the 12 months before their death, according to Palliative Care Australia, yet few access end-of-life care.

The peak body launched online resources on Tuesday to prompt more people to get talking and mapping out their wishes, whether for in-home or residential care. Resources include a card game, with an Aboriginal option.

Shannon’s Bridge co-founder Jeremy McKnight had two years with his 19-year-old daughter in hospital to talk about her end-of-life wishes, wanting to die at home in Mount Glasgow. 

One year old, the not-for-profit organisation has raised money for 30 specially trained carers to reach people in rural and regional areas across the state. Demand has also grown, beyond initial expectations, for Shannon’s Packs with the medicines, tools and information sheets so more people could die at home in relative comfort where there was limited medical services.

“We just saw a need more and more to do the packs,” Mr McKnight said. “We train volunteers to help in palliative care, helping patients and carers because it can impact your whole world. Even if it’s just helping the household where lots of things have to be done, like cooking, cleaning and outside chores.”

Mr McKnight said talking about dying still seemed taboo, but people were still keen to learn more.

Shannon’s Bridge will host public sessions at Creswick Community Health Centre (10am) and Maryborough Wellness Centre (1.30pm) on Friday as part of National Palliative Care week.

To donate to the Give to Help Hospice Grow Appeal, go to ballarathospicecare.org.au.