ORANA RESPITE CENTRE

Set up initially in privately-purchased houses with voluntary labour by caring nursing professionals, the immense need in the community for respite has seen this centre grow significantly over the years since its’ inception.

Serving Northern Tasmania the respite centre was faced with closure in recent years due to government funding deficits until the community rallied and fought for its’ survival.
Fund-raising provides a significant proportion of the operating costs each year.

The Orana Respite Mersey Pharmacy team entered in this year’s Hydro Tasmania Three Peaks Race are the three –times defending champions.

All five team members appreciate their freedom to participate in activities they love, and this year rather than simply defending another title, they are using their public profile to highlight the need for respite in the community, and raise funds for this ‘quiet-achiever’ Tasmanian charity.

CENTRE-BASED RESPITE CARE WITH AN HOLISTIC PHILOSOPHY

“Orana” means welcome, and welcome this respite service has been to people of all ages and disabilities, their families and service providers. The Orana concept assists the wider community by flexibly sharing the caring and bridging the gaps within our health, welfare and accommodation systems.

Orana was established in 1984 by three registered nurses, Muriel Bower, Robyn Roland and Norma Jamieson, who had a combined total of seventy-five years nursing experience encompassing domiciliary, nursing home/hostel, hospital and general practice. The concept could only become a practical reality by these nurses working in voluntary capacities, disregarding job demarcation and relevant award wages. In the absence of guaranteed funds, this core staff was supplemented by other voluntary carers to enable the provision of 24-hour services.

Government funding of any sort was not sourced until 1987.

STAFF

Initially Orana staff was voluntary, except for one paid registered nurse. Eight registered nurses, twenty-five in-service-trained carers, lawyer, accountant, and gardener all volunteered their services because they had experience or perceived carers’ needs.

Registered nurses on call 24 hours daily when personal carers are rostered on duty.

Volunteers support of the Orana concept was, and is, essential to its success. Volunteers remain an integral part of daily rosters, averaging 70 hours weekly. The dollar value of this patient care, socialisation, gardening, home maintenance, transport and professional advice, etc., is inestimable. Direct fund-raising accounted for 24% of the total financial receipts.

MULTICULTURAL

Orana has a multicultural policy that recognises that all people should be treated equally regardless of age, race or creed. Since Orana’s inception in 1984 there have been several admissions from ageing migrants who have become almost illiterate in their native language and have limited English skills. Interpreters were of little use, however staff managed.

THE FUTURE

Respite care will always be needed, so the Orana concept plans to continue listening to the local community and meeting its needs cost-effectively and flexibly.

Bureaucratic battles will also continue until the espoused policies become reality and people have choice in living and dying with dignity. Australian Government respite guidelines do not encourage cottage respite activities; however, it is strongly felt that people should have a choice in the type of care that meets the individual’s needs.

Community awareness and education will continue through volunteers (who will remain an essential component of the staff), fund-raising and general advocacy.

Orana is now involved with the local matriculation college, Don College, participating in a “Community Services Vocational Programme” based at Orana. Students gain practical experience and improve communication skills whilst learning to understand the ageing and disability processes. Training includes personal care, office and computer skills, diet and food preparation, Day Centre activities and child minding. Orana clients gain much from the contact with healthy youngsters who add a fresh dimension to their lives.

Since moving to the new expanded facility, Orana has diversified its activities and increased its profile in the wider community by making the facilities available for private hire. A toddler’s crèche twice weekly, regular church, HACC clients, Sunday luncheons twice monthly and soon to be established internet/email community access online service are just some of the external activities which make Orana a truly community-focused programme.

KNOWN BENEFITS OF THE “ORANA” CONCEPT

1. Carers and people living alone are relieved of the 24 hour commitment in a homely environment.
2. Compatible pets may stay.
3. Total cancer/palliative support tailored to individual needs
4. Continuum of care within one’s own community
5. Individual holistic care, diets and treatment compliance is more easily managed because of the low client numbers to staff ratio.
6. General practitioners assisted by:
- continuation of patient/doctor relationship
- treatment compliance
- more accurate assessment, reduced workload, etc.
7. Holiday care for elderly / disabled visitors.
8. Nursing Homes and Hostels are less pressured for early admission.
9. Acute hospital and rehab beds are relieved of social admissions, likewise the ambience is so much more appropriate.
10. Rehabilitation and convalescence for early hospital discharges.
11. Greatly relieves community health nurses, service providers and carers of continual work loads.
12. The mixing of aged and people with disabilities has helped remove most of the negative perceptions, particularly in smaller rural locations.
13. Emergency equipment loan and telephone is available 24 hours daily.
14. This concept costs Governments less than $400,000 annually and offers over 2,100 bed-days of respite and more than 25,000 hours of day-care.
15. Assist government and service providers with statistics and information.
16. Aged Care Assessment Team gets more accurate evaluation of people’s maximum potential.
17. Increased public awareness through home-carers’ course, in-service volunteer training, fund-raising, lobbying and meeting the local needs.
18. Provides professionally supervised and practical environment for college-based students doing Community Health degrees, and others doing community service courses.
19. Introduces people to the idea of communal life, day-centre, socialisation, etc.