Private car for older persons
2010-02-25
THE Drakenstein Palliative Hospice is poised to offer Private Palliative Care for Older Persons – a holistic, interdisciplinary team and active symptom management approach for older persons needing assistance or care in their homes. There is a great need for this service and in the past, Hospice has redirected numerous enquiries of this nature. As a result, Hospice is now planning to offer this paid service to the public. Elizabeth Scrimgeour, CEO of Drakenstein Palliative Hospice, is particularly touched to be a part of this initiative as it is a concern that is close to her heart. For the past year and a half she has employed home-based carers to visit her father. “Like many older persons, he prefers to remain at home rather than moving to a retirement home. “We have a carer who checks in daily to see that he is feeling well, that the bed is tidy, to make lunch and to chat for a while. This is a great comfort to us.” Hospice traditionally cares for persons with a life-threatening disease and an expectation of dying. The development of Butterfly House in Groenheuwel evolved from the changing needs of the community and was started in order to care for persons with a life-threatening disease and an expectation of living. Butterfly House provides care for terminally ill adults and children and vulnerable children as well as additional support to enhance quality of life. Adult and children patients are transported from all areas to attend group sessions, job creation, after school support, psycho-social and medical day care programmes. Sarah Lawton-Speert, a volunteer play therapist from Canada, has helped to create a remarkable playroom for the children. Hospice is a non-profit organisation that is funded by the community and is committed to respond to changing community needs. Funding and sustainability are a real concern as South Africa has been re-classified and is no longer considered a developing country. This has a substantial impact on Hospice funding as they are also reliant on international donors, says Scrimgeour. Private Palliative Care for Older Persons is a natural progression for Hospice as they already have the infrastructure in place to offer a variety of home care packages. They consider it to be a potential source of income to fund their free service. Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern day hospice movement, encapsulated the essence of hospice when she said: “You matter because you are. You matter until the very last moment of your life. And we will do all we can. Not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” If you are interested in being a home-based carer, contact Drakenstein Palliative Hospice for information on 021-872-4060 or admin@drakensteinhospice.org.za.
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