It’s a call we never hope to make, phoning a bank to cancel a deceased loved one's account. Our partnership with Westpac Bank means trained staff can offer additional support to their customers, as in Michael's case. hubs.la/Q01ms_Fp0

With an ageing population where we are living longer, we must remain committed to looking at ways we can structure a society that better supports everyone's needs. Keeping the lines of communication open is important to create necessary change. startsat60.com/media/news/int…

We’re recognising and celebrating National Carers Week. To all who have sought support from Violet, we honour your strength, resilience and capacity for love and compassion.We see you, we are here for you and we thank you. Need support?📞1800 Violet or violet.org.au

Violet is delighted to announce their partnership with HammondCare, one of Australia’s most innovative #health & aged care providers. Working to create a future where no Australian feels unprepared or unsupported as they care for someone in the last stage of life.

Be the change you want to see in the world! #socialenterprises are about making the world a better place. Great report by Social Enterprise Australia #changethegame #Switch2Good

The responsibilities of caring for someone at the end of their life can be challenging. Finding moments of reprieve can help you cope with the demands of the role. "Even if it's just ringing a friend, a cup of tea, or taking a walk,” says Beate who cared for her mother .

Thank you to RGA for awarding Violet a grant as part of the company’s 50th anniversary celebrations. This grant will help us deliver greater support to people caring for someone at the end of life and those living with grief. #RGA50 #griefsupport #cargiving #mentalhealth

Offering a massage can be a big ask amongst the demands of your day, but a short rub might be more manageable. Violet's Guide Practice Manager, Wendy Stocks says that spending "just a few minutes giving your loved one a hand or foot rub is a lovely way to connect."

Maree now goes for a regular weekly walk with her bereavement group and feels the freedom to talk about her mother, her mother’s illness and her mother’s death with other people who have had similar grief experiences.

It can be challenging to understand medical jargon, so it's important to ask questions until you are clear. It's common to feel unsure of what to ask, one question you try is, “if you were in my position, what would you ask?”

"Mum loved to talk and laugh so one day I just asked if she was OK with me recording our conversations. I suggested her grandson, Charlie, might like to hear them when he is older. She didn’t mind at all. I feel the more time passes, the more grateful I am that I have them."

Dr Kathryn Mannix | Palliative Care Physician and author - Violet's 5 Questions: A deep dive into deep conversations hubs.la/Q01CGWMr0

“It’s not necessarily about snapping back and recovering quickly from difficulties, but around tapping into resources we have at our disposal and acknowledging our inner strength and wisdom,” she says. “This includes being able to ask for help when needed.” #resilience #endoflife

At the end of our lives, what do we most wish for? For many, it’s simply comfort, respect, love. BJ Miller is a hospice and palliative medicine physician who thinks deeply about how to create a dignified, graceful end of life for his patients. #endoflife

It helps to remember aged care staff and caregivers want the same thing, "The resident is the most important person. We're all trying to support them to have the best life they can. You need to put aside your own stuff and focus on what they want.”

“If we don’t also make time for ourselves, our strength and resilience can deplete, leaving us less able to support our loved one,” says Wendy Stocks, Violet’s Guide Practice Manager. Self-compassion is a powerful tool to reduce mental stress and foster resilience.

Rose shares how planning helped her mum have the end of life she wanted, “She was content with her life and not frightened as she approached death”, says Rose. “There was a plan in place and mum felt safe. She died very peacefully with her family around her.”

“Mark sees death as a normal thing and he has said this all the way along. He tells me ‘that people need to know that it is normal and happens to everyone, and it's ok.’"

Caring for someone who is at the end of life can be incredibly emotionally and physically demanding. Often, people feel less connected. Violet Guide Amanda talks about how to maintain strong bonds amongst the chaos.

“Before you can focus on anything else, it’s important to give yourself time and space to adjust." Violet Guide Practice Manager, Wendy Stocks, says being thrown into the role of caregiver without any experience and not knowing what to do can be overwhelming.