To celebrate Hospice Week (May 6 to 13) Hospice East Rand is promoting awareness of palliative care in Ekurhuleni.
“Hospice East Rand is a community-based organisation whose mission is to provide high-quality, holistic and non-discriminatory care to patients with life-limiting diseases and their families,” said Sister Sindisiwe Mdlalose, the patient care manager.
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Mdlalose shared a bit about her life since she joined Hospice 20 years ago.
“When I joined I learnt about a different way of caring for patients. I learnt about a holistic approach which is an approach that does not just focus on treating the patient, but also looks at their emotions, the families’ emotions and many more factors,” Mdlalose said.
“Palliative care is a beautiful concept, and it’s one I am extremely passionate about.”
She describes her experience with hospice and palliative care and the difference Hospice East Rand has made in the communities it serves.
According to Mdalose, a friend of hers worked for Hospice and had only positive things to say.
Sindisiswe then became interested to find out more about this concept of hospice and palliative care.
“From my experience, I have noted that families really do take on the burden of their loved ones’ illnesses just as heavily as the patient and at times they feel really hopeless, lost and confused,” Mdallose said.
“That is where our counsellors come in and talk to them and give them peace of mind.
“This is a very important, underrated point for me. You focus so much on the patient, when in fact the family needs just as much focus.”
Sindisiwe then explored the impact that Hospice East Rand is having on the communities they serve.
“We treat all our patients in the comfort of their own homes,” she said.
“It is a better setting because they are comfortable and they are at peace with their loved ones at their bedside.”
For Mdlalose, the quality of hospice and home care are better when compared to hospital care.
She feels strongly that the health department needs a much more open-minded approach to the impact that hospice and palliative care can make on South Africa’s health system.
Hospice East Rand can be contacted on 011 422 1531.
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