KARUNA HOSPICE SERVICE

HISTORY | WHO DO WE CARE FOR? | MISSION | OUTCOMES OF CARE

Karuna offers 24 hour respite hospital care at home for individuals and their loved ones who are living with a terminal illness in Brisbane, Caboolture, Redcliffe and the Sunshine Coast areas of Queensland. 


KARUNA HISTORY

Karuna Hospice Service was formed by health professionals and community members in response to the growing need for hospice care at home for people with a life threatening illness and their loved ones.

Established in Brisbane since 1991 and on the Sunshine Coast since 1995, Karuna is not-for-profit public benevolent institution and registered charity.

Karuna's philosophy is founded on Buddhist principles of love and compassion.

Our team of staff and volunteers offers comprehensive support for the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the individual. Our goal is to offer an opportunity for people with terminal illness, and their families (however defined) to enjoy the highest quality of remaining life.

The name Karuna is from the Sanskrit meaning 'compassion'.


WHO DO WE CARE FOR?

The Karuna Hospice Service is a Brisbane based organisation that offers compassionate, caring support at home to terminally ill people and their families. 

We care for patients of all ages including adults, children and adolescents who have a life expectancy of less than six months. As a guide, families will need a carer available and a general practitioner who is able to be involved in home based hospice care.

To maintain the quality of our care, we limit the number of families we can care for at any one time. All services provided by Karuna are free of charge.


 

KARUNA MISSION

Our vision is the creation of a healthy community for the terminally ill and their loved ones through provision of a community collaborative hospice service from the time of diagnosis through the bereavement period.

Our vision springs from a Buddhist value base which affirms the value and dignity of all life; compassionate service; empowerment; and universal responsibility.


OUTCOMES OF CARE

The statistics for the year ended 30 June 1997 reflect the work of Karuna Hospice Service in Brisbane and Cittamani Hospice Service on the Sunshine Coast. Where possible, outcomes are shown for individual services and are aggregated. For Cittamani, this represents the first full reporting year.

BRISBANE 1997 1996 1995
Total Clients 123 112 116
Admissions 110 99 119
Deaths 84 74 89
Discharges 19 25 30
Nursing Visits 2422 2744 2336
Respite Visits 385 392 584
PLACE OF DEATH
Home 75% 70% 76%
Hospital 25% 30% 24%
Hospitalisation before death (days) 4.2 9.5 n/a
SUNSHINE COAST 1997 1996
Total Clients 51 10
Admissions 45 10
Deaths 31 3
Discharges 8 0
Nursing Visits 991 137
Respite Visits 209 n/a
PLACE OF DEATH
Home 89% 43%
Hospital 11% 57%
Hospitalisation before death (days) 4 6

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Email: karuna@karuna.org.au
Website by DELTA (2000) Bond University.