Flying Doctor Memory Lane takes adults in end-of-life or palliative care on a journey to a place that holds special meaning for them.
Memory Lane operates at no cost to clients, funded entirely by donors and staffed by a group of dedicated, volunteers drawn from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Victoria patient transport staff and non-RFDS health staff. Memory Lane helps people connect with something important to them in their final days or weeks.
Established in 2021 and still growing, Memory Lane is a small service that can have a powerful impact on the clients and families that use it. Working in partnership with health services but also with iconic sites around Victoria like Mt Buller, and other not-for-profits we make every effort to facilitate the journey that the client envisions. Recent journeys have taken the team to a favourite beach, to attend a local footy game, to a family wedding, to see clients return to the family home or have a picnic at a favourite winery.
An RFDS staff member whose father took a recent journey said ‘Although I’ve seen the incredible work this service has accomplished, I never imagined that my family would require its use. They treated my dad with the utmost dignity and respect. He had a difficult and emotional day, but this allowed him to bid farewell to his farm and animals. For the final time he saw the home he shared with his family, and this was the closure that everyone deserved.’
Each client and family is different, so each trip is tailored to the client’s wishes. With two purpose-built transport vans the journey can accommodate the client and up to three family members. A minimum of two volunteers accompanies each journey, and while the volunteers are AHPRA registered healthcare providers it is important to note Memory Lane does not provide clinical care. Clients require the approval of their treating clinician, as all clients are in palliative or end-of-life care and require specialist transport. Memory Lane works hard to ensure the journey happens in safety and comfort.
RFDS Victoria is keen to make sure that the program is well known in the sector, and we appreciate the importance of professional networks in making sure this service can be offered to anyone who wants to take a final trip down memory lane.
You can read more about the Flying Doctor Memory Lane service here.
For more information or to organise a trip, contact 1300 017 337 or memorylane@rfdsvic.com.au.