Services
Palliative care makes everyday life better for patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing challenges associated with life-threatening illness. It is a team approach to prevent and relieve suffering through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual.
HOLISTIC APPROACH
Our service begins with an initial holistic needs assessment - in your home. A Palliative Care Plan will be developed and assistance given with putting in place an Advance Health Care Plan or "Living Will"
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Regular contact will continue (on an appointment basis) and is tailored to the individual patient and/or family’s needs.
SPECIALISED CARE & SUPPORT
Specialised care and support are usually provided interchangeably by a multi-disciplinary team, including a palliative care trained doctor, nurse and social worker as needed, in consultation with the patient and family.
Medication for chronic conditions will continue to be prescribed by the diagnosing doctor, while medication for other symptoms may be prescribed by our palliative care doctor. Our social worker can provide additional psychosocial support if required.
OTHER FORMS OF CARE
Guidance can also be provided in accessing home oxygen, home-based care, hiring of a hospital bed and purchase of an eggbox mattress, as and when necessary.
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We are contracted to the following medical aids that provide a defined palliative care/advanced illness benefit:
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Discovery Health administered schemes
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Advanced Illness Benefit (AIB)
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Advanced cancer and non-cancer diagnoses (e.g Organ failure; Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke, Emphysema)
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Alignd administered schemes
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Palliative Care Programme
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Advanced cancer only
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Bonitas
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Fedhealth
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GEMS
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AECI
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Research has shown that engaging with a palliative care team early in the course of the disease may extend life.*
*Reference: King JD, Eickhoff J, Traynor A, Campbell TC. Integrated Onco-Palliative Care Associated With Prolonged Survival Compared to Standard Care for Patients With Advanced Lung Cancer: A Retrospective Review. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2016 Jun;51(6):1027-32. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.01.003. Epub 2016 Mar 4. PMID: 26948411.