--- title: Violet's CEO Melissa Reader talks about what's needed in the last life stage description: Violet's CEO Melissa Reader explains why the last stage of life needs more than a just a clinical focus. image: https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg --- # Violet's CEO Melissa Reader talks about what's needed in the last life stage Violet's CEO Melissa Reader explains why the last stage of life needs more than a just a clinical focus. ![Board-Melissa-1-1](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) # Violet's CEO Melissa Reader talks about what's needed in the last life stage ![Board-Melissa-1-1](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) Violet's CEO Melissa Reader explains why the last stage of life needs more than a just a clinical focus. - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/linkedin-icon.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs?img=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/facebook-icon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs&img=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/twitter-icon.svg)](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs?image=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/mail-icon.svg)](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site%20https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs.) ##### On this Page: The last stage of life can often have a very clinical focus, and this can be at the expense of a more human, social and emotional one. Communication patchy - difficult conversations are not well handled, or at worst, are avoided altogether. Planning and preparation are generally pretty poor. As a result, there can be a big gap between what we hope for, and what happens. Violet's CEO, Melissa Reader talks about the needs of the key people in the last stage of life. ## VIDEO: What do caregivers need most? - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/linkedin-icon.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/cws/share?url=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs?img=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/facebook-icon.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs&img=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/twitter-icon.svg)](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs?image=https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hubfs/6232806/LifeCircle%20-%20December%202019%20Folder/Images/Board-Melissa-1-1.jpeg) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/resources/mail-icon.svg)](mailto:?subject=I%20wanted%20you%20to%20see%20this%20site&body=Check%20out%20this%20site%20https://blog.violet.org.au/en/news/melissa-reader-needs.) ## Violet Guides can help you navigate complex conversations If you're struggling to to start end-of-life conversations with loved ones, clinicians or support people like aged care staff, Violet is here to help. You can book a session with a Violet Guide through [our online instant booking form here](https://pages.violet.org.au/gsp-bookings).  [![Talk to a Violet Guide](https://hubspot-no-cache-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/default/6232806/cbcfa66f-c046-42d9-8a1d-3f1669f111f3.png)](https://hubspot-cta-redirect-ap1-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/cta/redirect/6232806/cbcfa66f-c046-42d9-8a1d-3f1669f111f3) **Contact us at [info@violet.org.au](mailto:info@violet.org.au)** [Privacy Policy](https://violet.org.au/privacy-policy) | [Terms of Use](https://violet.org.au/terms-of-use) We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live and work, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present. - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/ic24-facebook.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/Violet.org.au/) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/ic24-twitter.svg)](https://twitter.com/Violet_org_au) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/ic24-email.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3igynQmXxAIcHny37JR5xA/featured?view_as=subscriber) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/ic24-linkedin.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/violetinitiative/) - [![](https://blog.violet.org.au/hubfs/Violet_2020/ic24-instagram.svg)](https://www.instagram.com/violet.org.au/)