McCulloch House
Patients and Families
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative Care Australia defines hospice and palliative care to mean –
A concept of care which provides co-ordinated medical, nursing and allied services for people who are terminally ill, delivered where possible in the environment of the person’s choice, and which provides physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual support for patients, and support for patients’ families and friends. The provision of Hospice and Palliative Care services includes grief and bereavement support for the family and other carers during the life of the patient and continuing after death.
Where can I get help?
Helpful Information
The following may need to be attended to in the first week after a death
Domiciliary Benefits 9285 8888
Ask for the domiciliary benefits department. You will need the carer’s name.
Pensions 13 2300
You will need to know the date of death. Your funeral director may be able to
facsimile the information to the department for you. A bereavement package will
be paid where applicable.
Veterans Affairs 9284 6000
Banking
Inform the banks where there are current accounts. Payment of funeral expenses
can be made from the deceased account - see the bank manager.
During the following weeks, you may need to cancel
Please note
A death certificate is posted to the responsible person during the weeks
following a death, from the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. If you
have any queries about this contact your funeral director or the Registrar of
Births, Deaths and Marriages on 9603 5856.
Financial/Legal Advice
Advice may be obtained from
Grief and Loss
McCulloch House 9594 5320
We invite you to telephone us or visit if you would like.
Palliative Care Victoria
Palliative Care Victoria can provide a list of community or home-based services as well as inpatient units. A medical officer or a relative or friend of a patient may refer the patient to a community service. Go to Links to other sites to access this site.
Metropolitan services include –
|
|
Your local council may be able to assist you with things such as –
Home help – cooking, cleaning, shopping
Maintenance – a handyman
The Cancer Council Victoria
The Cancer Council Victoria also has a help line – 13 11 20
McCulloch House Inpatient Unit
Dr Kate Jackson, Acting Unit Head
Ms Denise Brooks, Nurse Unit Manager
McCulloch House.....
Is a sixteen bed palliative care unit part of Monash Medical Centre and is
associated with Monash University. Teaching and education play an important role
at McCulloch House, however while your relative or friend is staying here there
is no obligation to participate in this.
The main aim of the unit is to assess the needs of patients and their
caregivers, in relation to symptom control, respite and supportive care.
A team meeting and ward round is held twice weekly, where current care and
treatment is evaluated according to the patient’s needs. Ongoing reassessment
may include implementation of community supports or referral to an appropriate
caring facility.
Patients and caregivers are encouraged to participate in decisions regarding
care. Information and resources will be freely available on an individual basis
to help with this. All information remains confidential.
Facilities
We have eight single rooms with en-suite and two spacious four-bed rooms with
shared bathrooms. We have a spa bath within the building. All rooms overlook our
gardens. Rooms are allocated on availability and at the discretion of the nurse
in charge of the shift, according to availability and with regard to each
patient’s needs.
All visitors should enter and leave the unit via the main entrance, all room
exits have an alarm to alert nursing staff that the doors have been opened,
these alarms will sometimes be disabled to allow use of the doors during the day
for the pleasure of the patient.
Emergency exits also have an alarm and are not for general use.
There is a small kitchenette where patient’s own special food and fluids may be
labelled and stored, and in the passage opposite the kitchenette, there is a soft
drink machine available for use by caregivers and visitors.
Both level 2 of McCulloch House and the corridor leading to the main kitchen are
out of bounds.
Patient Enquiries
We are happy for relatives to ring at any time during the day, but please be
aware that the unit is often quite busy and clerical staff will not always be
present to answer the telephone. It would be very helpful to us if the family
would appoint a designated spokesperson, someone who can contact other family
and friends to advise them of the patient’s progress.
Visiting Hours
Visitors are welcome to visit anytime during the day. Please remember that
patient’s become very tired over the day, and for this reason, we have a rest
period for all patients between 1pm and 2pm.
We often experience large numbers of visitors however it is recommended that
only a couple of people stay with the patient at any one time. The lounge room
is available for patients to visit with larger groups of visitors.
Visiting hours finish at 8pm and it is expected that all visitors will leave the
premises at this time. Any relatives who have reason to stay overnight should
have discussed doing so with the nurse in charge of the shift prior to this
time.
Children must be supervised by an adult at all times whilst visiting.
Admission
Patients admitted to McCulloch House are Medicare eligible. Admission can be
arranged after contact and consultation with the covering Palliative Care
Consultant and the nurse in charge of the shift. Referrals can be arranged by
GPs and other specialists, or after assessment by our Consult Team or a
community based palliative care team.
Our unit provides a team of professionals who respond to your physical,
emotional, social and spiritual needs. The team consists of Doctors, Nurses, a
Social Worker, a Pastoral Care Worker, an Occupational Therapist, a
Physiotherapist, a Pharmacist, a Volunteer Co-ordinator and Volunteers, Patient
Service Assistants and Kitchen Staff.
Patient Requisites
Personal toiletries, tissues and clothing required should accompany the patient,
also recent medications, x-rays and doctors letters. All belongings should be
labelled with the patient’s name. Tapes, books, favourite soft drink, wine, beer
or spirits are permitted.
You may bring other items, such as doonas and pillows, radio, clock or photos,
if you require them for your comfort.
Pets
Our unit has two pets, they are Devon Rex cats, Polly, who is black, and Leo,
who is a creamy colour.
Please advise the nurse in charge if you would like your pet to visit.
Telephone
All patient’s have a bedside telephone to receive calls. Outgoing call
facilities may be connected, the cost is $4 per day for the first week, $3 per
day thereafter. There is a surcharge for STD calls. Payment is made at the main
hospital.
All incoming calls should come via the main unit number (9594 5320) and not
directly to the bedside. Please be aware that ringing telephones at
inappropriate times can be quite distressing to other patients.
Reflection Room
… is a room set aside for quiet moments, and is for use by patients, families
and staff.
McCulloch House is a non-denominational unit. Our Pastoral Care worker will
arrange for denominational clergy to attend when required.
Bereavement Support/Counselling Service
A bereavement support/counselling service is available to any family member or
carer by contacting the Pastoral Carer or Social Worker in the Unit.
Interpreter Services
It is our policy to use professionally trained interpreters whenever we feel it
is appropriate.
Overnight Stay
Many family members/carers request to stay overnight with the patient. This is
possible and welcome when the patient’s condition warrants and is at the
discretion of the nurse in charge of the shift.
One or two people only may stay overnight in the patient’s room on a
recliner / rocker.
We regret that, in four-bed areas, overnight stay where relative sleep beside
the bed is not possible, owing to the necessity for security and privacy for
other patients in the room, as well as the disruption this may cause within the
area.
We have a ‘family room’ which is able to be offered, and when available there is
a cost of $5 per night or $10 for more than one night. This room is furnished
with one double sofa bed and linen in the room is supplied by McCulloch House. A
shower and toilet is available close by.
One two people may stay in the family room. During weekdays, the completed form
and monies to be paid may be given to the Unit Ward Clerk. On the weekend
nursing staff will attend to this.
Visitors may not sleep in communal sitting areas as this is not appropriate.
Meals
Meals are prepared and served according to the patients’ condition and tastes,
choices are available. It may be possible to provide meals for next of kin at a
reasonable cost. Meals are not available for visitors.
Lounge Room
Patients, families and friends are welcome to use the lounge room during the
day, however overnight stay in this room or other communal areas is not
permitted.
Children may play the piano in the lounge room only if supervised by an adult.
It would be appreciated if the headphones are used. Toys are available for use
within the unit and must be put away after use.
Tea/Coffee making facilities for families and visitors. Donations to cover the
cost of the products would be appreciated. It is expected that cups, plates and
other crockery and cutlery used will be washed, dried and put away after use.
Both rubbish and recycling bins are located in the area.
Television
A television and video player are situated in the main lounge room. Families may
bring their own equipment, provided they are in good repair. All electrical
equipment must be checked by the hospital engineering Department prior to use
within the unit.
Hairdresser
The hairdresser will visit on Tuesdays by appointment.
Parking
There is no parking available at McCulloch House. Short stay for drop off and
pick up at the front door is permitted. Please do not park in the driveway or in
the area designated for medical staff. Monash Medical Centre has a public car
park, where a daily fee applies. A concession for this car park is available for
next of kin after one week. Speak with the Ward Clerk or the nurse in charge of
the shift in regard to this matter.
Laundry
Laundering of patients’ clothing is the responsibility of the family.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the unit. Sand trays are provided around the
verandas and in the surrounding gardens for use by smokers.
Donations/Gifts
Donations are gratefully accepted and acknowledged. These monies are used for
continuing patient comfort. Donations to McCulloch House of $2 (or more) are tax
deductible. Unfortunately we are unable to accept gifts of artwork and
paintings.
McCulloch House Auxiliary
Our Auxiliary works hard to provide us with many extra ‘comforts’ for our
patients and their families. New members are always welcome. Please ask for
further information.
President – Margaret Mann 9544 4480
Secretary/Treasurer – Phyl Pola 9544 1114
Café
Located in the main hospital, level two, for hot and cold food and drinks. The
Café is open seven (7) days a week between 8am and 8pm.
Gift Shop
Located in the main hospital, level two. The Gift Shop is just past reception
desk on left and is open for newspapers and sundries. The shop is staffed by
volunteers and is open
Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 8:00pm
Sunday 1:00pm to 4:30pm