Enabling families and friends of people with a life-limiting illness to plan ahead and know what to expect, is the focus of the enhanced Last Days Program launched in February 2023.  This Program adopts an evidence-based approach and integrates learnings from a small but successful pilot during 2020-21, empowering participants to know their choices, develop an advance care plan and make timely decisions. 

Evidence shows that Australians are neglecting to talk about and plan for death, creating significant obstacles for improving the quality of death and dying[i]. Individuals perceive death and preparation for dying as technical, private and hidden.  Last Days aims to change this, by debunking the myths and offering a safe and supportive place to bring death and dying into the open. 

Offering both online and face-to-face options, Last Days engages participants in an interactive and practical 3-hour workshop. A reflective approach is taken through providing tools, activities and offering signposts for support.  With small group delivery by an experienced Palliative Care Nurse, two workshops are available; one generic and one tailored for families of people with dementia. 

HammondCare has significant expertise and credibility as a sector leader delivering specialist palliative care services across parts of Sydney and regional NSW, and runs the Dementia Support Australia service, supporting people living with complex dementia across Australia. It also has 24 residential aged care homes and runs a Home Care program to support people to live well in the community for longer. 

Find out about the Last Days Program to improve death literacy in the community – its partnership model, its breadth and reach to those who would benefit, how it’s being evaluated and future plans. 

[i] Swerissen H, Duckett S. Dying Well. Grattan Institute, 2014