PALLIATIVE CARE

Our History

The care of people who are dying is at the heart of the works of the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary. The vision of the Foundress, Venerable Mary Potter, was to establish a community of religious women who would give Christian care to the sick and the dying as well as praying for the dying of the world. In every health and aged care service that is sponsored by the Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, palliative care and care of the dying, is an integral part of the ministry.

Our Definition of Palliative Care

• Our practice of palliative care is, at all times, guided by the beliefs and ethical teachings of the Catholic Church as set out in the Code of Ethical Standards[1].
• We support a patient’sright to make choices regarding their treatment choices.
• We believe that relationships are a fundamental component of our caring and thus we will promote relationships with patients/residents and those who support them – both during their care and after they have died.
• Our delivery of palliative care is flexible and responsive to individual need in relation to:
  • Patient/resident needs; by supporting appropriate access to palliative care regardless of the site of care or diagnosis
  • The ability to respond across many types of diseases
  • The ability to respond to differing treatment choices
  • The ability to respond to fluctuations in the patient’s/resident's condition
  • The practitioners involved; the provision of care is interdisciplinary in its focus and will include spiritual, physical, emotional, psychological and bereavement care depending on the patient /resident's choice and identified needs
  • Different levels or aspects of palliative care; including access to palliative care services that may not be provided by LCM Health Care
  • Our practical support; including access to specialist Pastoral Care services offering spiritual and emotional support.
• We will ensure that the service a patient/resident accesses is supported by appropriate ongoing assessment and review.
• The Sisters of the Little Company of Mary, through their health and aged care services, continue the healing ministry of Jesus, whose care and compassion was inclusive of all peoples, regardless of their religious beliefs, cultures and traditions. Therefore, we consider it vital that patients/residents receiving palliative care in our facilities, together with those who support them are able to continue, to the best of their ability, any cultural or religious practices that give expression to their lives and beliefs. As a result, we offer practical support to patients/residents to enable them to continue to live out their unique identity.