Sometimes called life threatening or terminal, a life-limiting illness is an illness that cannot be cured and from which the person is likely to die. People might also use the terms 'progressive' (gets worse over time) or 'advanced' (at a serious stage) to describe these illnesses.

There are many illnesses that people can live with for many years, which may over time become ‘life limiting.’ These include but are not limited to cancer, organ failure, for example heart or liver failure and chronic progressive diseases such as motor neurone disease and dementia.

Living with a life limiting illness, particularly in the later stages, can be very difficult and frightening for the ill person, their family and carers. Everyday tasks such as appointments, shopping, caring for other family members, combined with the huge emotional and physical loads of caring for the ill person can become difficult to balance and navigate.

People can feel alone and apprehensive about what lies ahead, how family members will manage in the future, about expressing their innermost thoughts and concerns. The Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine volunteers understand these concerns and are trained in listening and providing emotional support.

Palliative care is the person and family-centred care of a person with an active, progressive, advanced illness, who has little or no prospect of cure. As well as assisting with management of medical symptoms it also cares for their social, spiritual, emotional and cultural needs, looking after the whole person. Palliative care focuses on maintaining the individual’s quality of life, helping them to live as well as possible and when the time comes, to die in comfort.

The Bellarine Community Health Palliative Care staff provide nursing and medical treatment, understanding and support for people living on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Volunteers bring life and meaning to the Compassionate Hearts on the Bellarine Organisation.

Our trained volunteers can offer non-medical social and practical support to others.

Offering the hand of friendship, this support may include companionship, carers respite, transport, assistance with pets, emotional caring for both the ill person and their carers, listening, chatting, undertaking light errands and simply spending time together.

Support can continue after the death of a loved one with one of our trained volunteers offering bereavement support.

In addition, one of our trained volunteers is a journalist and she is available to document life memoirs for people receiving our service.