From nursing and social work to spiritual care and day programmes, we offer a range of services to support your wellbeing, at home, in hospice, or in the community.
6429
community nurse visits (includes multiple visits to patients when needed)
10000
kilometres travelled per month by our community nurses
18740
community nurse contacts in total (including face to face, telephone & written)
Our community nurses provide specialist, patient-centred care for people living at home or in residential care, supporting them to manage changes, maintain comfort and improve quality of life. Care is tailored to individual needs and includes:
Our palliative care nurse work closely with the broader Mercy care team that includes allied health, family support and trained volunteers.
Together, the team provides coordinated care that helps patients, families and carers feel informed, supported and confident throughout their journey.
Whakamāherehere haumanu
Our qualified counsellors provide support and guidance to patients and their whānau navigating the palliative care journey. When someone who is cared for by Mercy Hospice dies, our counsellors offer bereavement support to whānau and caregivers in the weeks or months following the loss. Our team also offers an eight-session bereavement support group. All our counsellors are registered members of the NZ Association of Counsellors (NZAC) or New Zealand Christian Counsellors Association (NZACC).
Kaitakawaenga
End-of-life care at Mercy Hospice aims to meet the needs of the diverse range of ethnic and cultural groups in Auckland. We acknowledge and respect that our patients and their families have a rich variety of attitudes, personal values and beliefs around death and dying. We aim to provide culturally appropriate palliative care for all, with a specific focus on our Māori, Pasifika and Chinese patients.
Our Kaiārahi provides Māori cultural leadership, guidance and spiritual support, upholding the Tikanga/Kawa – practices and beliefs of Te Ao Māori (the Māori world). Our Kaiārahi provides a Te Ao Māori perspective to palliative care, through tiaki and Manaaki – advocacy and support.
Mercy Hospice’s Pasifika liaison ensures the care a patient receives honours their Pasifika culture. We work directly with patients and families in line with the values of ‘teu le va’. We also advocate for Pasifika patients and families within the service, as well as educating our colleagues on Pasifika cultural practices.
Our Chinese liaison aims to ensure a high standard of culturally appropriate care is provided. We respond to the needs of Chinese patients and their families, and the Chinese cultural nuances related to end-of-life care. We also engage with the wider Chinese community, as well as supporting, mentoring and educating the Mercy Hospice clinical teams on the needs of Chinese patients.
Our eight-bed Inpatient Unit (IPU) in Ponsonby provides 24/7 specialist palliative care for short stays, supporting patients with symptom management, complex needs and end-of-life care. Our focus is on comfort, quality of life and providing care that respects each patient’s preferences, while supporting their whānau throughout their stay.
Patients and their whānau are supported by a multidisciplinary team, including specialist palliative care doctors and nurses, counsellors, social workers, occupational therapists, cultural and spiritual care providers, physiotherapists and lymphoedema therapists. The IPU nursing team includes 30 registered nurses, a clinical charge nurse and an associate clinical charge nurse.
Some patients return home once their symptoms are better managed, while others continue to receive care at the hospice.
At Mercy Hospice, we offer care and support for patients experiencing lymphoedema. We can help you manage symptoms and improve comfort, with support based on what’s right for you.
Manaaki is a day programme to enjoy social activities, gentle exercise, and creative sessions. It’s a place for laughter, friendship, and support. Our Manaaki programme provides a place to meet with others who share similar experiences. It allows patients to remain social and engage in activities with support from our staff to reduce feelings of isolation and maintain quality of life.
Manaaki day service is delivered in a group setting, so that patients and their whānau can connect with others who share similar experiences, creating space for a friendly, social, non-clinical environment.
The service offers three different groups every week:
Whakaora ngangahau
Our occupational therapists help patients to maintain their quality of life in the activities that are most important and meaningful to them. They can assist with assessments of the home environment, equipment to maintain independence and safety in daily activities, education for patients and their whānau on positioning, moving and handling, pressure injury prevention and care, fatigue management, maintaining a routine and adapting to change to enhance their independence and wellbeing.
Physiotherapy is available to patients at Mercy Hospice as part of our supportive care services. Our physiotherapy team can help patients maintain safe mobility, independence and comfort, with support tailored to each person’s individual needs and goals.
Tauwhiro hāpori
Our social workers assess the needs of patients and their whānau holistically to help navigate challenges and practical issues. This can include social support, helping connect with and navigate social services, advocacy for equitable treatment, future planning including facilitation of residential care, and therapeutic conversations to help overcome challenges.
Manaaki wairuatanga
Our spiritual care coordinator meets one-on-one with patients to discuss their spiritual needs, as well as the existential questioning that can be a part of the palliative journey. Spiritual care is very personal and individual, for patients it can mean exploring meaning, connection and purpose. Our team respects and honours each patient’s values, culture, beliefs and experiences.
The Mercy Hospice Palliative Outcomes Initiative (POI) helps people with serious or life-limiting illnesses receive the right care and support from their usual healthcare providers, such as their GP, nurse practitioner, or aged residential care team. The programme is intended for people who do not need specialist hospice care but would benefit from a palliative approach to care.
The POI team works alongside healthcare professionals to help them identify people who may need additional support, plan ahead, and have meaningful conversations about future care wishes. By providing advice, guidance, and education to healthcare teams, the programme helps build their confidence and skills in supporting patients and their families.
99%
of Palliative Pathway Activations (PPAs) received and reviewed by the POI team (from both General Practice or Aged Residential Care) have not needed a referral to specialist palliative care services
447
attendees per month on average at POI education and service development sessions
516
number of palliative patients in aged residential care facilities supported by POI