Franklin Hospice still going strong

Despite budgeting constraints, Franklin Hospice has provided a valuable service for over 40 years.

While providing both palliative and end-of-life care, they also offer complementary therapies and drug-free interventions. These, combined with a patient’s standard care, can help them sleep, relax, or relieve pain. These treatments include massage, Reiki, breathing exercises, aromatherapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy sessions.

As a small community hospice, they lack an inpatient unit, so staff members travel to the patients’ homes to provide them with the medical care they need. They cover a large area: as well as Pukekohe and Franklin, they also serve Glen Murray, Hunua, Awhitu, Karaka, Drury South, Mercer, and Mangatāwhi.

When patients do die, the hospice stays in touch with their families, making sure they are all right and are coping with the loss.

This can take the form of advice or support, Franklin Hospice fundraising and marketing manager Alison Daldy says.

“During the journey of the person who’s ill, the whanau is important to us, and we try to help them. After their loved one’s passed away, it’s important they still receive support. We offer bereavement support and make sure the whanau is okay. Unfortunately, we’re not funded enough to do as much as we’d like, but we certainly keep in contact with most of the whanau.”

Like other hospices across the country, Franklin is not fully funded and only receives 54 per cent of their budget from Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand. The remaining 46 per cent is raised through fundraising, grants, applying for sponsorships, and public donations.

“All hospices are in the same boat; we all get partial funding, I suppose, there just isn’t enough money to go around. St John only gets some of their funding, and there are quite a few medical associations that only get a portion as well”.

Their latest appeal, from September 8 to 19, involved sending letters to the communities they serve and asking for donations. They will be telling them about the obstacles they face and the services they offer.

The not-for-profit organisation faces its own challenges. While specialists and district nurses provide medicine, the rising cost of living makes fundraising more difficult as people have less to donate. Just like a business, they network and connect with their communities through social media to raise their profile.

In the past, the hospice held several events, such as a bingo night fundraiser, which raised $11,242, and a Franklin Hospice High Tea, which raised $13,700.

If you would like more information or would like to donate, visit www.franklinhospice.org.nz or call 09 238 9376. You can also visit their office with your donation at 29 Hall Street, Pukekohe.

• The Franklin Hospice Christmas Quiz Night is on November 21 at Navigation Homes Stadium. Gather a team of 8 friends, families or work colleagues and dress up, quiz the night away, and have loads of fun! Only $240 per table. For more information, contact karena@franklinhospice.org.nz or call 09 238 9376.