Wedgetail Retreat provides a holistic model of care, in partnership with other service providers that is inclusive and allows access to best-practice cancer and life-limiting illness support, respite or hospice care. Supporting the individual and their family with client-centred, quality-of-life enhancing programs of care. This is done by trained volunteer palliative carers Registered nurses and when needed, Specialist and GP care.
Wedgetail Retreat Hospice is now in its 5th year of operation and has supported more than 500 local Respite or End of Life patients during our active time of palliative care provision of the highest standard for individualised and culturally sensitive care.
Wedgetail Retreat Hospice prides itself in its Nurse-lead model of care and is staffed by a Registered Nurse 24/7. Our Nursing team work in a close partnership with NNSWLHD Palliative Specialist Dr Devi McAlpine and our Skilled Hospice GP Dr Kim Nguyen, in combination with a Palliative Social Worker Donna Sauer and other allied health teams as required.
Who can stay & for how long?
Wedgetail Retreat Hospice receives referral for both respite and end of life clients from home or hospital.
A Respite stay at Wedgetail is usually 1-2 weeks to give full-time carers a break and support both the client and family through some breathing time whilst also providing possible medication reviews to assist with pain control, alongside other symptom management. These reviews are undertaken by
both our Palliative Care Specialist Dr Devi McAlpine and our Hospice GP Dr Kim Nguyen.
An End of Life stay at Wedgetail usually fits in with a specialist prognosis of 6 weeks or less, and during that time clients will nominate to transfer from home or hospital with their families to receive total care needs to prepare them for their final days. These care needs include, all domestic support, clinical support, emotional, spiritual and existential guidance to promote and empower our guests to make the most of life during the pre-terminal and terminal phase.
Family members are always invited and encouraged to stay with their loved ones during this time, Wedgetail Retreat can accommodate for whole families to stay together with provisions of food, washing and bedding with a small donation required towards meals for extended family.
How Much Does It Cost to Stay at Wedgetail?
Currently Wedgetail Retreat Hospice relies 100% on community donations through individual and business donations. The annual cost of running our facility is approximately $750,000 per year. Wedgetail encourages all its guests to consider a contribution based on what is affordable to them (we received no government funding and rely solely on donations and our Op Shops profits to fund the Hospice)
Where is the closest township?
Both Tumbulgum and Murwillumbah are within a 10-minute drive from the Hospice. Families can arrange additional accommodation or groceries from Murwillumbah, please ask the Wedgetail team for further information and assistance.
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