Notes from Dying Well Saturday September 23, 2017

Dying Well Notes from Saturday September 23

Attendance 50 at Welshmans Reef Winery 2.30-5pm

Format: Expert speakers followed by Q&A session.

Information packed and upbeat vibe to an important topic that many people are reluctant to think about - too morbid.

An eagerness for information, with  people taking notes.

David Stratton welcomed all, noting that

“In a shared hospital ward with 3 80+yo men (I am 65) I see how people *long* to have these conversations. It's not just that the subject is taboo but also that most of us are too "polite" to broach it."What if they get upset?" is the question I hear. They didn't. They craved this conversation.”

Bernadette Ervin - Complex Care Co-ordinator Castlemaine Health. Explained what is Complex Care.

Supports and helps clients to learn how to better manage their own health. A useful service to know about.

The right care in the right place at the right time may reduce the need to go to hospital. Free service offered to residents in Mt Alexander and Macedon Ranges shires who are at risk of frequent admission to hospital.

People with heart disease, lung, diabetes, pain and other chronic conditions are helped to access services, social psychological support, help with medications use.

Bernadette’s approach is to ask the client “What is your biggest problem?” The answer can differ from what might be assumed. A person with unstable diabetes was unable to phone for an ambulance as he didn’t know how to operate his new smartphone.

Handout available from Castlemaine Health - Advanced Care Directive - A record of my future health care wishes. Bernadette recommended we fill it out and keep it in with our medications “in the bikkie tin” so that if an ambulance is needed this vital information is on habd. Lodge a copy with Castlemaine Health for their records and a copy to be signed and given to your GP.

Medical Enduring Power of Attorney should be appointed. The Office of the Public Advocate has produced a 56 page A4 booklet Take Control A Guide to Making Enduring Powers of Attorney with forms included.

Copies available from: www.legalaid.vic.gov.au

Another edition of this booklet will be available from March 2018. The revised edition will reflect further changes to power of attorney laws with the commencement of the Medical Treatment Planning and Decisions Act 2016 on 12 March 2018.

The Office of the Public Advocate http://www.publicadvocate.vic.gov.au/ has a useful website. An enduring Power of Attorney is a way a person can exercise choice and control now, in case they are unable to make decisions in the future. They recommend that everyone 18 or older consider making Enduring Powers of Attorney.

As Dr Simon Benson a GP and long time member of Dying With Dignity (Vic) https://www.dwdv.org.au/about-us reminded us, anyone could have an accident, be in a coma or have a stroke without warning, none of us knows, and then it would be too late to make our wishes, choices, preferences clear.

“Why do they nail down the lid on the coffin?” Answer: “To keep the oncologists out!” More and more rounds of treatment with ever more severe side effects can rob a person of quality of life and precious time with loved ones. Do we want to be pain free or lucid towards the end?

Dying With Dignity provide various downloadable forms including a Refusal of Treatment form.

Where do we want to die?

Statistics show that 85% of the population wish to die at home but 85% actually end up in hospital.

Libby Moloney from Natural Grace http://naturalgrace.com.au an independent, holisitic, environmentally conscious funeral company based in Woodend spoke about the importance of a home like environment.  Overseas there are B&Bs available for those who want to have their family around them in their final days.

People can be as involved and as hands on as they choose, some keep their loved one in the house for a few days for a vigil using a supplied cold blanket to maintain a cool temperature. They may wish to tend the body themselves, others dig a grave by hand.

There is no legal requirement to have a funeral celebrant, people can design and perform their own ceremonies.

Clr. John Nieman circulated colour photos of his late wife’s shrouded ceremony. A calico shroud and a ‘community coffin’ was on display. It is now possible in some parts of the local area to have a shrouded cremation with a specially designed tray. Some families are travelling to Woodend for this option which is still not available in Melbourne.

Kelly Skinner - Independent Celebrant Newstead (5476 2768) Reminded us that funerals are for the living. If there are family issues or conflict, a bereavement is likely to make things much worse. A ceremony gives people the opportunity they need to express their grief and honour the life and personality of the deceased. Funeral Rights  by Australian author Robert Larkins (Viking 2007) is recommended reading

Lee Pearse - Independent Celebrant (5476 6330 ) emphasised the choices on offer to suit personal preferences and needs. Lee’s message was “It is your funeral.”

Ros Hart - Retired Grief Counsellor (0438762280) spoke of the need to start the important conversation and normalise talk of death. She  encouraged her good friend Nick Hudson to appoint  Medical and Financial Enduring Power of Attorney. The relief he felt at setting his affairs in order, has freed him up to enjoy the rest of his life..

Question & Answer session included lively discussion on Organ Donation.-if a home based death is chosen it is not possible to also have organs harvested due to distance from major teaching hospitals or aged organs.

Further information:http://www.donatelife.gov.au/donatelife-victoria

Dying Well

View the conversation
Saturday Sept. 23   2.30 - 5pm

Welshmans Reef Winery

Dying Well Takes Planning

Making your wishes clear is easier for everyone.

Planning for dying gives you peace of mind for living

What would be a good death for me? Putting Your House in Order

                  

• Funeral Plans? Natural Burial? or...Cremation?
• How Do You Want to Be Remembered?
• Enduring Power of Attorney - Medical?                                          
• Talk  Plan  Live              
• Organ Donation?
• Palliative Care - Pain Free or Lucid?
• Living Will? End of Life Wishes? Advanced Care Directive?  
• Family Led Funeral?
• How Do I Want to be Cared For? Where do I want to die? Hospice?
• Avoid upsets, misunderstandings
• Who do I want near me at the end of my life?           

Find out more from Panel of Speakers :

Bernadette Ervin - Complex Care Co-ordinator Castlemaine Health - what services, support and information is available.

Dr Simon Benson – Dying With Dignity (Vic)

Libby Moloney & David Ryan - Natural Grace -  independent, holistic, environmentally conscious funeral company. Alternative options for a personalised approach.  

Q&A Discussion with Guest Speakers:

Ros Hart - Retired Grief Counsellor - The Big Conversation - the earlier you talk about dying wishes helps brings a sense of relief for all involved. Make the most of living now.   

Lee Pearse & Kelly Skinner – Local, Independent Funeral Celebrants  

Contact: Bronwyn Smith 5476 2302  FREE - light refreshments - Discussion

Progress (or not!) on the Newstead Community Plan

The 2013 Newstead Plan, after gathering a huge number of ideas from an awful lot of locals, focused on the Top Ten.

You can read the plan here  - page 3 lists the ten priorities, page 18 shows how you how the 600+ suggestions were gathered from 400+ local people and pages 26-30 shows you some more of the thoughts beyond the Top Ten.

Between June 2014 and June 2015 a series of Rocket Science sessions were held to dig deeper into these ten ideas and try to set in place some actions on each of them.

Here is a summary of progress to date and links to the session announcements and, in some cases, notes on what took place. The final session, reported on here, summarised everything.

1. Refurbishing and revitalising the Newstead Station as an Arts Precinct

A Newstead 2021 sub-committee runs the Station Arts Hub. Newstead Salon Inc is pursuing similar renovations of the Goods Shed.
Session announcement
Contact newsteadartshub@gmail.com, Public Facebook Group, Blog, on Instagram on your phone @newstead_arts_hub

2. Creating a Pedestrian Bridge across the Loddon River to connect both sides of town

The bridge idea was firmly rejected as potentially adding to flooding risk but VicRoads are assessing a pedestrian protection (like Carisbrook) on the road bridge.
Session announcement

3. Establishing a Skate and bike park and community activity centre

The group looking into this continues to do so.
Session announcement
Session notes

4. Establishing a connected network of walking and bike paths and trails between Newstead and surrounding towns, using existing easements and bushland areas

Newstead Walks and Wheels, auspiced by Newstead 2021, is actively planning four tracks.

Session announcement
Session notes
Contact newsteadwalksandwheels@gmail.com

5. A major renewal of street trees within the town precinct 

There has been no substantial movement on this, however street trees are a common element to many Plans so Shire input is anticipated.
Session announcement

6.Establishing a “Support and Sustain our Volunteers” Initiative for volunteers and community Groups

No real progress but the RTC is strong on this.
Session announcement
Session notes

7. Develop a local business strategy for Newstead to build business and employment opportunities

No real progress.
Session announcement

Session notes

8. Planning for a liveable Newstead, to ensure Newstead retains its unique built and natural values into the future

Some local input into Shire’s Urban Growth Strategy in 2016.

 9. Catering for our ageing population through access and accommodation

Newstead and District Affordable Housing has been incorporated (Chair Michael Redden).
Session announcement

Session notes
A later session, Elder Care - this changes everything really galvanised this
Contact newsteadaffordablehousing@gmail.com

10. A road safety focus to minimise traffic impacts  and create a safe and quiet township

VicRoads is actively pursuing two proposals – a pair of pedestrian sanctuaries at Panmure/Lyons and a Carisbrook-style pedestrian barrier on the road bridge.

Session announcement

Session notes

Volcano Dreaming

2:00 pm Sunday 7th August

Welshmans Reef Winery, Welshmans Reef

Volcano Dreaming

Julie McHale - aboriginal elder and Gary Gibson - seismologist

This session is jointly held by Rocket Science and Words in Winter. There will be a $5 admission charge.

Looking south from Newstead, especially around Clunes, you will see many of the hump-like hills that are clearly extinct volcanoes.

This is part of a volcanic region that stretches from Geelong to Mount Gambier and is unusually "young" in the geological sense. So young - the most recent eruption was 4000 years ago - that the aboriginal locals saw "the mountains fighting"

In this session Julie and Gary will interweave stories about these events from two, very different, points of view.

Wine and coffee from Julia and Ron

Elder Care - this changes everything

View the Conversation

3:30 pm Saturday 23rd July

Welshmans Reef Winery, Welshmans Reef

Aged Elder Care - this changes everything

Daniella Greenwood 

National Strategy and Innovation Manager for Arcare Aged Care

Growing old is an achievement and it needs to be celebrated, says Daniella Greenwood.

Daniella is taking us on an exciting and soulful journey through the possibilities inherent in our own hearts, and in the way we think about and support our most vulnerable citizens.

Growing old is a fate we'd rather not ponder: becoming frail, possibly having dementia, and living in residential care. But if it was your fate, what would you wish for?

Most people want to be surrounded by people they know and love.

Unfortunately, the reality tends to fall far short of this wish. Many people living in residential care share their environment with people they have never met before, and they are cared for by people they do not know.

As their dementia deepens, their confusion and distress is exacerbated by the fact that their carers change on a daily, even hourly basis. At a time in their lives where meaningful relationships matter most, they are surrounded by strangers.

One woman is working hard to change this She is an international key note speaker. Daniella is manager of strategy and innovation at Arcare, an Australian company with 19 residential care facilities in Melbourne, Queensland and South Australia.

She has pioneered an innovative and inspirational way to care for people with dementia.  It's called assigned dedicated staffing.

"The model is simple," she says. "We have asked staff to commit to working at least three shifts per week, and to commit to working with the same elders every time they come to work. This way, strong relationships can develop. This includes carers, cleaners, and catering staff."

In practice since late 2013, preliminary results indicate the model is having a profoundly
positive impact on elders, staff and families. Elders are more settled and secure being cared for by people they grow to know; staff are more satisfied caring for people with whom they form meaningful relationships, and families feel reassured knowing their loved ones are settled.

As one relative remarked: "For the first time in three years I can sleep in, because I know exactly who is there with Irene and I  trust them."

The unique model is also being praised by aged care experts, nationally and internationally.
Mr Michael Bauer from the Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care described it as inspirational. "I would go so far as to say (it is) visionary for the aged care sector."

Ms Marie Sheahan from Charles Sturt University remarked that the model signaled great hope and optimism for the future of elder care.

Newstead local and organiser of this It’s Not Rocket Science talk, Neal Bethune, said the talk was not intended to be a promotional event for Arcare. "It is purely an opportunity for Central Victorians to learn more about innovations in aged care. After all, one day we may be on the receiving end of this service."

More at http://youtu.be/IUJWFWXz-wY

It Takes A Community - A relationship-focused approach to celebrate and support old age.

Wine and coffee from Julia and Ron

Sustainable Living session - notes

Living Sustainably

Saturday June 18th, 2016

Su Dennett & Patrick Jones - Hepburn Relocalisation Network

Welshmans Reef WInery

Apologies: Dave Stratton and Meg Ulman unwell.

Attendance : 16

Su Dennett & Patrick Jones (partner of Meg Ulman) both members of Hepburn Relocalisation Network shared what the people over the mountain and down the road are doing to promote sustainable living and community building.

http://relocalisehepburn.blogspot.com.au/ https://www.facebook.com/hepburnrelocalisationnetwork/

Patrick Jones has not stepped inside a major supermarket for 6 years. On a recent bicycle ride he visited Newstead supermarket & general store and was impressed with the range and variety in stock - Meredith cheese, local wines, Sprout  bread - “both shops are locally owned and need to be supported by all”, he said.

Local jobs, not just hospitality work, can create real worth within the community. Buying local food, having  things made locally - might not be cheaper than products from China but does assist in building a future for the local community.  By employing a local person you ensure the money stays in the community.  

Why Not To Shop in Supermarkets?

Many supermarkets hold only 2-3 days of stock, much of what is stocked in these supermarkets is processed, nutrition depleted. A recent power outage meant that the Daylesford Coles was closed, the electric doors wouldn’t open, cash registers couldn’t work. Crowds soon built up outside, unable to enter the store - mild panic set in. What if there is a fuel shortage? Trucking strikes? We need to wean ourselves off reliance on the duopoly. Going away from major supermarkets strengthens community.

Patrick Jones & Meg Ulman are authors of The Art of Free Travel - A Frugal Family Adventure

“they set off on an epic 6,000km year-long cycling journey along Australia’s east coast, from Daylesford to Cape York and back. Their aim was to live as cheaply as possible − guerrilla camping, hunting, foraging and bartering their permaculture skills, and living on a diet of free food, and bush tucker.”

Meg Ulman & Patrick Jones lived the busy life in the city, working to pay a mortgage, the typical 2 car household. Then they decided it was time to grow food  and a change of lifestyle. They live without supermarkets or cars, saving the $15,000 dollars it cost to own and run 2 cars. Patrick, a builder, has apprentices who stay and learn how to build “small houses” which can be used for guests. Their stated aim is to escape the grip of the monetary economy and provide a future for their family.

Shopping & Trading Locally.

The growth economy can’t continue indefinitely, but it is possible at the household level to grow and to feel socially and physically nurtured. Behaviour change is easier at the personal, household, local level. Focus on what we don’t need. Less money, more freedom and a lot less anxiety. Any community activity needs to be inclusive of all ages. Everyone needs to do well in the community, not just some of us.

It is important to gain sovereignty over our food. Swapping at the household level outside the monetary economy, establishing food co-ops, and vege box schemes encourages healthy eating in season and supports local food producers.

Always buy Australian grown coffee, in preference to Fair Trade. At least we know workers have not been exploited and are paid a fair wage. We cannot know the impact on the people and local economy and environment when we purchase exported Fair Trade products. Is that land depriving farmers of their own food crops in favour of an exported monoculture cash crop?

Always buy local wood rather than imported timber. People are exporting commodities and not growing their own locally grown food.

Su’s tips on healthy eating.

Grinding her own grains from Powletthill http://powletthill.com.au/about-us.html

to make flour might be labour intensive, but the nutrients are kept intact. Heritage grains are preferred - kamut, spelt, rye easier to digest, less interfered with.

Patrick has been harvesting acorns to make into flour. He is quite an expert on foraging, fermentation, with a knowledge of what foods are available seasonally from local forests and roadsides.

Good and poor seasons for fruits and vegetables may be nature’s way of varying our diet, just as many traditional societies have a period of fasting.

Su reads the Newstead Echo online, keeps in touch, loves to read what goes on here. Newstead is to be commended for this community run newspaper, something that Hepburn lacks.

Uncertain Future

We all need to embrace uncertainty.

We need to learn the fundamentals - how to feed and clothe ourselves.

We need to prepare for a life of uncertainty. Cash might not be the answer.

It is Important to teach and prepare our kids, to learn skills for survival.

Many volunteers experience burnout, giving too much of themselves. There needs to be a balance between giving and receiving. Relationships that support and nurture are essential.

Our priority is to take care of ourselves and look after our own needs, if we don’t, then others will have to. We are then better able to participate in the wider community, and  have more time.

Su & Patrick brought along delicious refreshments they had prepared including Su’s freshly baked sourdough bread, crackers made from vegetable juice pulp, fresh cheeses, pickles, relishes, chutneys, sauces, cakes & preserved fruits. Lively discussions continued along with book signings.