Each Quest property is part of a local community and we recognise our responsibility to play an active and positive role. Quest introduced ‘Quest for a Cause’, an umbrella under which we support one charitable organisation, as well as many local charities and organisations within close proximity to Quest properties.
Each Quest property is part of a local community, and we recognise our responsibility to play an active and positive role. Quest introduced ‘Quest for a Cause’, an umbrella under which we support one charitable organisation, as well as many local charities and organisations within close proximity to Quest properties.
The beginning of 2014 saw the establishment of Quest New Zealand’s exclusive charitable partnership with Hospice New Zealand.
Across the country, the 42 Quest properties will partner with their local hospice service and plan a variety of activities that will raise awareness of hospice services and much needed funding.
In our efforts of supporting the new partnership with Hospice New Zealand, Quest encourages all staff to play an active role in raising awareness of a such a selfless service, particularly over the coming week.
The national awareness week for the hospice locations throughout the country runs every May and is an opportunity for everyone to step back from the daily grind and think about who and what is important and what living every moment means in a personal sense.
“You don’t have to be dying from a life limiting condition to take the opportunity to review how your life is going, to ask yourself what living every moment means to you” explains Wayne Naylor, CEO, Hospice New Zealand.
"The purpose of Hospice Awareness Week is to increase public understanding of the value of hospice care and advocate for fairer government funding to support hospice. It’s an opportunity to engage the public in conversation around the positive experience of holistic, palliative care and drive nationwide donations for hospice." continues Mr Naylor.
Hospice is not just a building it is a philosophy of care which extends beyond physical needs, encompassing emotional, spiritual and social needs of a person and their family.
Jen, whose brother Matt used their local hospice service recounts the time as a very special time for the whole family.
“When we walked into Te Omanga Hospice it was like leaving the war and entering a ceasefire. It was peaceful, it was calm, and it was miraculous. We weren’t fighting anymore; we were with Matt now waiting on an inevitable end.
The team at Te Omanga hospice showed us how humans can be when we face the end.
Their compassion and care were an enormous comfort to us; we really knew there was no better place for him to be.
We lost Matt in July; he had just turned 49. To the end, as well as caring for our brother, the team at Te Omanga cared for us.”
“It is not uncommon for people to comment that becoming involved with hospice is nothing like they expected, and they wish they had been in contact sooner” Mr Naylor says.
Hospice Patron Jo Seagar encourages everyone to get into Hospice Awareness Week. “I really hope everyone takes the opportunity to support their local hospice – there is so much happening throughout the country. Open days, memorial services, street appeals and hospice cuppa events. More information can be found at www.hospice.org.nz. Take a look and get involved”.
More information about hospice: www.hospice.org.nz
The goal of hospice is to support people with a life limiting illness to live every moment in whatever way is important to them, their family, and whanau.
The concept of care encompasses the whole person, not just their physical needs but also their emotional, spiritual, and social needs too. This care extends beyond the person who is unwell to include their family and whanau; support is available both before and after a death. Irrespective of where a person lives, this philosophy of care does not change, and everything provided is free of charge.
Hospice services are free of charge; however, hospices have to raise a huge amount to keep their service free and accessible.
Last year, it cost $226 million to run the country’s hospice services, but the government only provided $114 million. Hospices raised $112 million from community donations, fundraising, and other sources in order to keep services free for everyone.
For more information, please visit www.hospice.org.nz.