PEOPLE who have experienced palliative care are sharing their intimate and powerful stories in a bid to break to down misconceptions of end-of-life care.
Palliative Care Victoria has launched its Moments That Matter campaign to coincide with National Pallative Care Week.
The campaign reveals intimate and personal stories and videos from Aussies who have experienced palliative care, including raw accounts from a family of a young refugee girl who had a terminal genetic condition, a terminally ill couple, and a husband whose wife was grateful to have been able to live her final life stages in their family home.
Palliative Care Victoria chief executive Odette Waanders said the aim of sharing these compelling stories is to change existing fear-based perceptions of palliative care, and promote the positive and meaningful support it provides.
"Through Moments That Matter, we want to break down the myths and misconceptions of palliative care and start a conversation with people of all ages," said Ms Waanders.
"Three quarters of the 40,000 Victorians that pass away each year require palliative care, and yet there is still not a clear understanding of what palliative care is."
Ms Waanders said they want to highlight the human element and show it is not just about death, but more about improving the quality of life and embracing what matters most to a person with life-limiting illness and their family.
"Accepting our mortality helps us to put life into perspective, to live each moment, each day as best as we can, and to live life in a way that is true to your values, true to what really matters to you.
"It's about living your life more fully and focussing on what matter most," Ms Waanders said.
She said palliative care acts as an additional layer of support, "allowing people with life limiting illness, their families and carers to live, die and grieve well".
The videos can be viewed at www.momentsthatmatter.org.au
