St Luke's Combined Hospices, Cape Town

The heart of this specialised category of nursing, known as palliative care, is in giving patients whose illness is not curable, optimum quality of life – by working to keep them as pain and symptom free as possible, as well as emotionally, socially and spiritually supported; and also drawing in those people in their circle of nearest and dearest.

Palliative care is both highly practical and innovative (since every patient is unique), and it springs from great love and understanding of the human psyche. But sadly, patients (and families) often resist reaching out for hospice help, because of the misconception that hospice = death. In fact, there are many long-term patients under hospice home care who are helped to live each day to the fullest – despite their illness.

And, with the patient’s willingness (as the centre of the care team), the best time to contact hospice is earlier rather than later.
Hospice is also not a place, but rather a philosophy of caring which is taken to patients of all ages (with mainly, but not exclusively, Cancer and AIDS), with no social, financial or racial barriers, by a team of trained and dedicated professionals and wonderful volunteers. However, in-ward care is also available if and when necessary