The Forrest Centre Hospice
The Forrest Centre has a long history of attending to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of people in their final years.
Our Palliative Care team is dedicated to ensuring quality of life for all those in our care and helping you or your loved one achieve dignity and comfort as you come towards the end of your life.
The Forrest Centre Hospice is our dedicated Palliative Care facility on-site at Mary Potter Nursing Home, Wagga Wagga, providing respite and long-term end-of-life-care, with accommodation for 10 residents, spaces for families to gather and consulting rooms for doctors and other health professionals.
What is Palliative Care?
Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by the treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial or spiritual.
Palliative Care at The Forrest Centre Hospice
We can provide compassionate care to any person of any age who has been diagnosed with a serious illness that cannot be cured. This may include people with illnesses such as cancer, motor neurone disease, end-stage lung or kidney disease or cardiac failure. And it may include support at the start, during or end of their illness.
Many people wish to love out their remaining time and die at home, but this is not always possible for a variety of reasons, including the nature of the illness and how much care is needed, the support available from family and friends, or whether there is someone else living at home who has the capacity to provide care when required.
The Forrest Centre Hospice provides a high-level care environment which is comfortable for the resident and their family as the end of life approaches.
Our palliative care:
Provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death
Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of residential care
Offers a support system to help the family cope during the residents illness and in their own bereavement
Uses a team approach to address the needs of residents and their families
Maintains relationships with existing health care professionals.
Living in The Forrest Centre Hospice
The Forrest Centre Hospice can accommodate 10 residents and provides:
Large and secure single rooms with private ensuite for the comfort of each resident and their family members
Indoor and outdoor spaces for families to gather
Library room for quietly retreating and relaxing
Space for family or friends to stay overnight supporting their loved one
High quality, around the clock care given by specially trained palliative care nursing staff
Consulting rooms for visiting medical professionals
Allied health services
Specialised medical equipment
Pastoral care and church services
Social activities such as movies, craft, bingo, gardening and concerts
Appropriate and inclusive communication about choices and decisions with regards to care
Confidentiality and privacy.
Admission to The Forrest Centre Hospice
We can provide compassionate care to any person of any age who has been diagnosed with a serious illness that cannot be cured.
A referral for admission may be made by:
Doctors
Hospital Liaison Officer
Community Palliative Care Nurses
Aged Care Assessment Team
Family or friends
Self-referral.
History of the Hospice
The Forrest Centre is part of the Palliative Care Alliance with Calvary Health Care Riverina, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network, and Murrumbidgee Local Health District. Established in 2013, the Alliance exists to ensure people have access to seamless, well-coordinated and integrated services as they approach and reach the end of their life, regardless of financial circumstances.
One of the first of its kind in Australia, the Alliance is a powerful model for cooperation between service providers for improved care, where patients and their families can navigate smoothly between health care facilities.
The Forrest Centre Hospice is the final piece in the Alliance’s commitment to the Riverina community to establish the full spectrum of palliative care services, whether they be provided in a hospital, hospice or in the person's own home.
Complementing other regional palliative care services, the $4million Hospice was completed in in 2019.
If you, or your loved one, requires palliative care, please contact us at The Forrest Centre Hospice on (02) 6932 3011 and we will assist you to understand your options and how we may be able to help you.
Help someone die with dignity
Donate to the Hospice
The "Together We Care" fundraising committee has held a variety of events across our community for The Forrest Centre Hospice.
Marg Glasson was a vocal supporter of our fundraising efforts. Sadly, Marg passed away in August 2016 but made this video to show her support for the facility.
“Life is so important, and you’ve got to live it to the max, right to the end. Having palliative care and someone to look after you (means) you have dignity. That just brings so much quality back into your life and it’s so important.”