Arohanui Hospice

The aim of the specialist palliative care service provided by Arohanui Hospice is to support patients of all ages with life-limiting illnesses, based on individual need and to optimise quality of life until death and bereavement. This support is achieved by assessing and addressing the physical, psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs of the patient and their family/ whānau. Support is also provided for the individual’s family/whānau, throughout the illness and after death.

Palliative care is provided in such a way as to meet the unique palliative care needs of individuals from particular cultures, ethnic backgrounds, communities or groups. These include: Maori, Pacific People, Asian, people with disabilities and mental illness, the elderly, and those in rural communities.

The services provided include support of the patient in the community, inpatient care, respite care, a 24-hour advice service seven days a week, outpatient clinics, day procedures, a pharmacist, an activities-based day programme, social work services, family support, pastoral support and bereavement support.

Arohanui Hospice provides specialist palliative care for people in the Manawatu, Tararua, Horowhenua and Rangitikei regions with a life-limiting illness, and support for their families/whānau. At any one time, there are approximately 250 patients receiving specialist palliative care services in this area, and more than 1100 patients and their family/whānau a year.

Our services are used by anyone with life limiting illness such as cancer, respiratory, heart disease, motor neurone disease or HIV-AIDS.

We are partially funded by the MidCentral and Whanganui District Health Boards. We need to raise more than $3.5 million in the current financial year alone to address our core operating shortfall.