Rotorua Community Hospice to open doors for a day

Clinical director Sue Taylor, project manager John Crean, trustees Mike Steiner and Jeanette Crean, Pukeroa Oruawhata chairman Malcolm Short, and previous Rotorua Hospice CEO Sharron Black. Photo/File

Rotorua will get a peek behind the scenes of the Rotorua Community Hospice when they swing open the doors to the public.

The Rotorua Community Hospice is holding an open day tomorrowat their new facility - 1469 Hinemoa St - from 10am to 2pm.

Fundraising and marketing manager Nicola Smallwood says this is their first open day at Rotorua Hospice.

She says this week is Hospice Awareness Week – a national campaign profiling and celebrating the services hospices provide in their local communities, and addressing the misconceptions people sometimes have around hospice care.

"We want to open our doors to everyone.

"We want people to understand we're about living life to the fullest, that our service is free of charge, and that being part of Hospice is about support for the whole whānau."

Nicola says at the open day they will give tours of the building and describe what support they can provide.

There will also be fun activities like a demonstration dance from the annual fundraising event Harcourts Dancing with the Stars and a ticket giveaway.

It will include a local coffee cart, a sausage sizzle and a raffle.

"I'm excited to meet people in the community that maybe aren't sure about what Hospice does or what support we might be able to offer, and be able to share with them the support we provide.

"I'm also really excited to see last year's winners of Harcourts Dancing with the Stars perform again."

She says it will be a fun, social day.

"Hospice is all about community and we want everyone to be a part of our beautiful building and have the opportunity to meet us.

"Come along, say hi and maybe win a raffle."

Nicola says Hospice Awareness Week is important because raising awareness of hospice services in a society reluctant to talk about death and dying is no easy feat.

"Yet, death is a natural part of life, and so it is vitally important New Zealanders are aware of the work of Hospice, and of the ways in which we can help people with life-limiting conditions to live well until they die, whilst supporting their families and whānau."

"One third of all deaths in New Zealand use Hospice support and, unfortunately, that number continues to rise.

"Having an understanding of what your local Hospice does is vital for your friends and your family."