Caring for those with life-limiting illnesses does not only require a qualification, it also requires a helping hand and a caring heart.
Hospice East Rand (HER) recently trained learners from Belvedere School in basic home-based and basic palliative care.
“The principal of Belvedere School, Mr du Plessis, is passionate about the learners of the school and their future,” said Annete’ Nel, research psychologist and registered counsellor at the school.
“He is always reminding all of the staff that our learners need to be employed and that we are their footpath to their life story.
“At Belvedere School, we try to look at each learner individually and when they reach their exit level at our school, we strive to help them on the right path towards employment.”
HER patient care manager Sr Sindisiwe Mdlalose explained what palliative care is about.
“The World Health Organisation defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening/life-limiting illnesses through the prevention and relief of suffering, the early identification, assessment and treatment of pain and other symptoms either physically, psychosocially and/or spiritually.
“The basic introduction to palliative care is a non-accredited training course to impart skills and knowledge,” Mdlalose said.
“It provides learners with skills around anatomy and physiology, stages of development from six months of age to old age, common diseases, how to prevent illness, universal precautions in infection control and information about a healthy lifestyle.”
The course was broken down into eight days of HBC knowledge – three days of assimilation practical’s and five days of the palliative care module.
The 16 learners were 18 years of age and were selected, as they will soon leave the school.
“The HER course was specifically selected as learners at our school are practically inclined and learn best by really being involved in the learning,” Nel said.
“This course opens so many doors to our learners. They can be employed as they have learnt a skill and received a certificate of completion. We know they will be fantastic caretakers.”
While HER confirmed this is just a certificate course, they explained why they provided this course to Belvedere upon request.
“[We hope] to provide a skill the learners can use in home-based care and will be able to impart the right knowledge should they have sick family members, relatives or friends,” Mdlalose said.
“It is important to remember that all care workers need to be supervised at all times by professional nurses.
“Should one of these learners register with the HBC, our nurses will gladly supervise them as they were trained at HER.
“HER offers NQF Level 3 accredited training with QCTO, which is an 11-month course.”
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