"Thank you for the respect and dignity shown to my partner at the end of his life"

I would like to express my warmest thanks to the ER, Yarrabee Ward, geriatric, and Palliative Care teams of the Sutherland Hospital for the care and compassion given to my partner of over 20 years throughout his last four days of being on this earth.

Their attention to preserving his dignity was of the utmost importance to me and they provided this with patience and respect. Despite his very advanced dementia and being in an unconscious state for his last four days, he was spoken to as if he did not have dementia and as if he were conscious. He was recognised for the person he was and not for the person cloaked in the illness of dementia. This has left a deep impression on me as he had not received this level of respect, recognition and dignity for the six years he spent in a secure dementia unit where he was mostly viewed as a number with a checklist of tasks to be ticked off. This is not a reflection of the aged care facility, but a reflection of a system that requires more resources, such as more funding and more specialised staff if real respect and quality of life can be had by dementia residents. 

At all times I felt I was involved in his dying process with their patient understanding of my need to have my concerns and fears addressed. They not only ensured his comfort but mine as well by providing me with a comfy recliner and pillows and blankets so that I was able to remain by his side for those four days, which allowed me to be there to hear him draw his last breath.

My only recommendation would be if essential packs of personal care, such as hairbrushes, combs, toothbrushes and toothpaste etc., could be provided to the loved ones who had no support available to bring these items to the hospital for them. 

A huge thank you to everyone involved.