I cannot honestly say enough about our experience with the team at Wedgetail and the palliative support that was given to my mum and by extension me as her carer during her final days.
Like most people that are faced with the realization that they or their loved one needs palliative care we were scared, and totally unsure of what to expect. I felt that I was failing my mum by not being able to care for her at home and mum felt she was giving up on her fight for me.
We were both very concerned about leaving the familiarity of her home to move to a level of care and what we feared would diminish her independence and autonomy. Our greatest fear was that she would end her days in an impersonal facility where her choices about everything from pain management and daily routine to what she could eat would be taken from her.
On the day my mum was transported to Wedgetail her condition was extremely dire, she had been vomiting for days, her pain management was completely out of control, she was painfully thin, her vitals were at dangerous levels and she was honestly just hanging on. It was a very frightening time for all of us and we didn't know how long she had or what we were to expect.
And this is where the story turns.
Within days of arriving at Wedgetail my mum was stabilized, her pain management was under control, she was eating wonderful home made food, she had a sparkle in her eye, she was sleeping and most important, she was at peace. I remember her telling me, "this is where I want to be Kate, I'm happy and I'm safe here, it's going to be OK". That day the nurses moved a cot into her room for me to sleep beside her and that is where we stayed, until she passed.
Wedgetail felt like our home while we were there, we enjoyed long afternoons watching the sunset, playing cards on the deck, laughing with the nurses and many visitors and just being together for the precious time we had left. Volunteers cooked honestly delicious meals and looked after our practical needs so I had the space to care for mum in the ways that were meaningful to me without feeling exhausted and overwhelmed with having to do more than I could manage. At night I was able to cook some of my mums favorite meals and enjoy them with other families and patients that were staying there at the time and that companionship with others that were sharing our pain was healing for everyone.
Honestly the time we spent together at Wedgetail was nothing short of magical. I know that is a strange way to describe it but it truly was. The nursing staff are amazing, they are honest, they talked constantly with us about everything we wanted to know, and they give me and my mum clear information that allowed her to feel in control of her own care, and they bolstered her enough to give us several weeks of clear pain managed time to come to terms with our situation on our own terms.
Volunteers came and played piano as the sun set, gave haircuts, massages, and taught art classes, a horse literally come to visit my mum in her room, dinner parties were had, we even had a couple of surprise breakout trips to the markets in wheelchair accessible transport arranged by the nurses. Nothing was too much trouble and everything was meaningful.
When the day came that my mum did succumb to her cancer she wasn't scared and neither was I, she was at peace, and she was comfortable, and so much of that I have the staff at Wedgetail to thank for. From our social worker, to our incredible volunteers that prepared meals and kept everything running, to the honestly saintly nurses, and of course Meredith and the board my mum and all of the other patients I met during our time at Wedgetail could not have been cared for better.
It has been almost two years now since my mom passed away and while there will always be a pain of loss when I think of her I am also blessed to feel a softness in my heart, and pride that I was able to care for my mum until the end in the way that she needed because of the people at Wedgetail.

Kate 2019

Not long ago my husband (Jim) was diagnosed with terminal cancer.
We decided between ourselves that we would endeavor to keep Jim at home for as long as possible and only return to hospital when it was absolutely necessary.
As Jim’s health deteriorated it was suggested by the palliative care nurse that we might like to take some respite at Wedgetail Retreat.
Mistakenly thinking that this would be a hospital environment, Jim was not keen to leave home until the day before he passed away.
When we finally made the decision to move to Wedgetail Retreat we were made feel so welcome and safe by the nursing staff. Perhaps words cannot describe the relief Jim felt at the beautiful surroundings and knowing he was in good hands.
All worries of hospitals dissolved as Jim’s needs were met easily and without fuss.
The volunteer staff were more than helpful and nothing was too much trouble.
To Meredith who manages Wedgetail Retreat, I can only speak in glowing terms of you, your staff and a facility that is not only wonderful for all concerned, but is therapeutic for the soul.
So many thanks……………

Margaret Hagan and Family 27.08.2019

Hi, my name is Ilan Haba , on the 27th of August 2017 my partner of 28years David Hayes has passed away peacefully at the palliative care house. On those last three weeks we've been looked after by amazing people, nurses and volunteers that took care of the medical and domestic offers which enabled us to focus on each other, spending the end of our journey together. This was most important element of the process of departing. The house is built in a shape of four wings surrounded by balcony to accommodate the need of privacy for the patients and their partners, each wing had a corner where the patients could host visitors that came to say goodbyes. At the centre of the house was common settings where we could get together have our dinners and celebrate the little time we've had left in the most beautiful dinner parties, we had good food, toast a glass of wine, play nice music and made the most out of a very critical time. We have been treated humanely and in complete dignity way, felt loved at the palliative care house. We where very lucky to experience such unique love, one of the only one world wide..

Ilani 2019

Stanley was a fantastic talker and an equally earnest listener. He was much loved. His great sense of humour, love of food, family and the community made his 85 years of life very rich. Meredith, his daughter and the President of TPS talks about her incredible father and about their experience at Wedgetail Retreat Hospice.

Mum and Dad have been visiting the Tweed every year for the last 16 years escaping the cold Adelaide winters but this visit was different. From the moment I picked them up at Coolangatta airport I could see Dad was not well. His health deteriorated and he was admitted to Murwillumbah hospital and then on to Tweed hospital where he was diagnosed with lung cancer with bone metastasis. An incredible shock for all of us and the whole family flew from Adelaide to be with Dad as his condition was very serious. Dad was in Tweed for a week then down to Murwillumbah for some rehab to get him back on his feet so he could go home. Home to Adelaide was not an option as Dad couldn’t fly because of the large blood clots in his lungs. I jokingly said to Dad he could be the Wedgetail Retreat poster boy and be one of our first clients. Unfortunately, I was right. Dad and Mum moved into Wedgetail Retreat on Dad’s discharge from hospital and spent the next month there with the whole family and friends coming to visit and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and relaxed atmosphere that is Wedgetail Retreat. After one more short visit to hospital to have fluid drained from his lungs Dad was returned to Wedgetail Retreat by ambulance and three weeks later he passed away very peacefully at 10.30 pm on 23rd of July. Dad was married to my Mum, Mignon, for 53 years, had 3 children and 2 grandchildren. Mum and Dad lived on a farm in the Adelaide Hills with my brother and their little dog Reggie. Dad missed the company of Reggie so one of my dogs was a stand in and Bodhi spent many days with Dad and didn’t leave his side on the day he died. Loosing our darling Dad and Grandpa has been the worst experience of our lives but being able to be with him and spend those last precious weeks all together laughing and enjoying every minute knowing he was never alone or scared was invaluable. We are thankful that Dad and the family were in the most beautiful, loving environment of Wedgetail Retreat Hospice. It made the whole experience bearable. I would never have imagined that my Dad would be one of the first clients at Wedgetail Retreat Hospice. After Dads death, Tweed Hospital Chaplain, Dorothy Owens, conducted a wonderful Celebration of Life ceremony at Wedgetail Retreat for Dads’ Tweed friends.
- Meredith Dennis for Stanley John Dennis