Hospice Care
What is hospice care?
Hospice is a program of care with the aim to improve the lives of people diagnosed with incurable illness. Hospice care starts at the point where a person’s life limiting illness is diagnosed as terminal to the end of their life, however long that may be. This philosophy of care treats the person rather than the disease and focuses on quality of life. Hospice care team’s priority is to support the patients and their families in the moment of need. This patient-centred care focuses on the totality of a person’s needs, be it physical symptoms, social, emotional and spiritual issues. Patients and their families are the main architects of how hospice care activities should serve them.
Hospice information for patients
Our hospice care team are committed in walking the journey with patients and their families till the end. Our main aim is towards comfort care by managing symptoms and controlling pain. This gives patients the chance to share more valuable moments with their family and express all things they need to say.
Hospice care services are brought to the patient, wherever the patient calls home. The natural progression of our services is to have inpatient unit build Centrally. We seek national, regional and global communities to support our services. Should you wish to assist in anyway possible please refer to Donate button at the top of the page or get in touch with us via the contact details above.
Hospice care is built with multidisciplinary approach in mind. The team comprises of healthcare professionals from various specialties such as doctors, nurses, aides, social workers, chaplains, therapies and volunteers. Each of the team members have been trained to fulfil their roles with compassion to meet patient’s spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and personal care needs. On the day of your home visit, the team will be available to help with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)bathing, wound dressing, administering medication, assisting with eating and drinking, companionship and more.
Hospice information for families
When one member of the family is suffering, the entire family becomes distressed too. For indeed, patients do not face their terminal illness alone. Our care is family centred, as Starlight Oasis of Hope we are dedicated in partnering with families in providing the best care possible for their loved ones. This mutual collaboration between the hospice and the families will enable good information sharing which will help minimise unnecessary hospital visits /admission. Our collective interventions will focus on making the patient comfortable by addressing pain and other related symptoms.
Our hospice staff are trained with knowledge and skills to enable them carry out their job roles with efficiency and good quality. Our nursing team are able to administer medications and escalate concerns as appropriate while our aides will assist with bathing and grooming needs. At the time that one needs hospice care, usually this comes with deep emotions and stress and hence why we have a team of Chaplains and social workers available to address spiritual and psychosocial needs respectively.
Starlight never leaves you in the middle of the journey, that is to say; when your loved one passes away, we are still here for you. Our bereavement team will work with your family to provide support throughout your grieving process.
Bear in mind that hospice care does not mean you are giving up. Instead it means you want the best care and support for your loved one.
Should you have questions about hospice or require more information, please see our frequently asked questions to learn more.
Additional hospice information resources