For more information on future / advance care planning go to www . advancecareplanning . org . nz
There are two articles in this edition of Health Matters that I especially want to reflect on and ask you to give your consideration .
The first concerns immunisation and how Immunisation Week this year is targeting pregnant women . Getting immunised against whooping cough and influenza when you are pregnant are two of the most important ways you can help protect your baby in their first few weeks of life .
We tend to forget how important immunisation is in preventing infectious diseases . Let us think about polio , which is caused by a virus that can lead to a mild or a very serious illness . The virus infects the bowel and from there can attack the nervous system , causing meningitis or paralysis . This paralysis is usually permanent .
Polio was once one of the country ’ s most virulent infectious diseases and New Zealand experienced severe polio epidemics in the early 1900s . The vaccination was developed in the 1950s and , in the 1960s , mass immunisation campaigns saw polio completely disappear from our country .
However , polio is spreading in some overseas countries and could be brought back into New Zealand by travellers and immigrants . Therefore it is important our children , and international travellers , continue to be immunised against polio . Ensuring you and your children are immunised is a great way of protecting the whole of our community .
The second article I want to draw your attention to concerns oral health . Taking
From the Chair
Sally Webb Chair , Bay of Plenty District Health Board
good care of your mouth , teeth and gums is a worthy goal in itself . Good oral and dental hygiene can help prevent tooth decay , gum disease and bad breath , — and can also help prevent other disease .
Good oral health starts with our children . When it comes to keeping your family ’ s teeth healthy , it ’ s important to ensure they brush and floss , but it ’ s just as important to be mindful of what they put in their mouth . There is a long list of foods and drinks that are bad for your teeth . In fact , they can actually hinder or reverse the good that your dental routine is doing .
Sugary drinks , such as fruit juices and soft drinks , are definitely on this list . Although they are popular drinks for children everywhere , they are not the best choice .
Check out the results from our school competition to see the creative ways in which some of our youngsters are learning about the importance of oral health .
Immunisation and good oral health are two ways to protect your family , to keep them healthy and living life to the fullest . Take the time to make a difference for you and the people who are important to you .
He aha te mea nui o te ao ? He tangata ! He tangata ! He tangata !
What is the most important thing in the world ?
It is people ! It is people ! It is people ! Arohanui Sally Webb Chair , Bay of Plenty District Health Board
Clarity over Care Decisions Reduces Stress of Mum ’ s Final Days
“ It feels good to know we got it right for mum ,” says Rangitawhai Rahiri .
Rangitawhai ’ s mother Rauhina Moke died less than four weeks ago , aged just 63 . Her diagnosis of terminal cancer , in June 2015 , rocked her family but one simple document , a Future Care Plan , helped bring clarity and reduce some of the stress of her last days .
“ If you knew my mum you would know that she liked to be in control of things ,” laughs Rangitawhai from Te Puke .
“ She obviously didn ’ t have any control over the cancer so this ( a Future Care Plan ) at least gave her a sense of control over what was going to happen at the end . She was very excited about that .
“ She would whip out her care plan to everyone who came in our house , get them to take a look and read it . Pretty much everyone who would listen got to hear about it .”
A Future Care Plan is a document which gives people the opportunity to write down their wishes for their healthcare . This includes things such as : people you would like involved in decision-making , your spiritual or cultural needs , even simple preferences such as a fondness for spicy food or bright rooms for example .
Rangitawhai says for her family , having
Rauhina Moke , who passed away on 21st March , was a passionate advocate of Future Care Plans .
Rauhina ’ s wishes written down by her , took away a lot of pressure and helped them cope better with the fact they were losing her .
“ It made things heaps easier for her care , and after she passed as well . It saves having to think about these things when you don ’ t feel like thinking about them .
“ There are lots of things we don ’ t discuss , especially to do with sickness , there ’ s a lot kept secret . But going through this process has definitely made our family closer .
“ Everything was coming from her . Right down to her funeral , it was all in her care plan and she would keep scribbling things on it . At her tangi I was walking around with it in my handbag in case I had to whip it out and clear anything up .”
Rangitawhai has now spread the word about Future Care Plans to several other members of her extended family .
“ Families need to discuss this , because if you don ’ t , when the time comes and someone gets sick , you run around like headless chickens and can make bad decisions .
“ Sometimes when it ’ s left to one person to decide everything that ’ s what can split families because disagreements arise . Here there ’ s no argument because it ’ s there in black and white .”
For more information on future / advance care planning go to www . advancecareplanning . org . nz
To download a Future Care Plan go to the BOPDHB website www . bopdhb . govt . nz / media / 58138 / my-future-care-plan-paua . pdf
Free hard copies of the Future Care Plan are available at the receptions of both Tauranga and Whakatane Hospitals .
Rangitawhai Rahiri has encouraged other family members to complete a Future Care Plan .