Hospice is a place you could go to for support when you need it most … 

Where Quality of Life is the utmost priority!

The process of dying makes us aware of the Precious gift of Life, especially when we, or a member of our family, do not have much longer to live.  So many people fear that Hospice is involved only because someone is dying.  This is not so.  We are involved because someone is Living.

 We give Total Care for the patient and his or her family, by empowering them to cope with the Realities of Life and Death.

Hospice provides a service within the security and safety of the patient’s own home, with comforting knowledge that their traumatic experience is being shared with a Medically Directed, Nurse Co-ordinated, Multi-disciplinary team of specially trained Professionals and Volunteers.

 Hospice cares on the basis of need – and not who can afford…!

Because of our dedicated Mission – No-one is ever denied Hospice care because they cannot afford to pay for it.  However, we are totally dependent on public donations.

Hospice in the West is a Registered Non-profit organization, which is entirely dependant on donations as well as our own fundraising efforts.  We receive no Government funding, although the Government recognizes the tremendous work that is done by Hospice.

WHO CONTACTS HOSPICE?

Hospice empowers and cares for Terminal Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Motor Neuron Disease patients.  Hospice Care is only provided if an approach is made by the patient, by a loved one, or by someone directly concerned with the patient, such as the medical practitioner, hospital, social worker, clinic or clergyman.  Such calls are immediately dealt with by trained staff, who channel the request for care to the other members of the Hospice team,

SERVICES PROVIDED:

Home Care - a multi-disciplinary team consisting of an experienced, Palliatively trained Nurse and a Caregiver, who make themselves available to visit the patient in his or her own home – to assist with medical care, and emotional support. 

Pain & Symptom Control – To ensure comfort, members of the Hospice team will introduce methods to control symptoms such as pain, nausea, constipation, incontinence, bed sores, disturbed sleep patterns or dietary problems.

Patient and Family Counselling – the unique dynamics which arise when a loved one is diagnosed as having a progressive illness, may lead to problems even in a close-knit family unit.  Hospice offers support to both patient and family members to enhance understanding and communication, to address the individual fears and needs of each member, and to directly involve the patient and his or her loved ones, in making effective and meaningful decisions regarding their lives.

Bereavement Counselling – We provide comfort and emotional support to the family following the death of their loved one.  We also offer bereavement support to anyone who has lost a loved person through illness, an accident or suicide.  Bereavement counselling is available for as long as it is needed.

Medicines/Drugs – Patients are encouraged to continue obtaining medicines from their existing source, eg hospital, general practitioner or pharmacist.

Hire of Equipment – hospice has a range of equipment, which can be loaned, at a donation, and

this can be arranged through the Hospice Nursing Sister.  The equipment includes commodes, bedpans, wheelchairs, walking aids, etc.  It is essential that equipment is returned to Hospice when no longer required.

SUPPORT GROUPS:

Day Care Support Group – Patients have a choice to attend Hospice once a week to enjoy a social outing.  Activities such as handcraft, art subjects, listening to music, emotional support and chatting with other patients are encouraged – allowing family members to enjoy some free time.  A scrumptious tea and lunch is also provided.

Bereavement Support Group– We run a Bereavement Support group twice a month – catering for all times we have a Morning support group and an Evening support group.  It is the coming together of people that have experienced loss in their lives.  This service is available to Hospice bereaved families and to the community.

People with AIDS Support Group – Our AIDS patients attend a weekly meeting whereby, several crafts and arts are hand made, which then will be sold for them to be able to earn a bit of an income…  We provide them with lunch and transport…  The support shown between the patients in this support group is so profound.

TRAINING COURSES:

All bookings to be made through our office, (011) 953-4863; Costs & Dates are also available at the office or on our Diary of events.

Self-Awareness- (3 days) A discovery into your own heart & soul.  We crate a safe and sacred space, which allows you to release and let go, of old trapped pain and therefore makes space for new joyous experience in you life.  Most of us have lost our belief in ourselves.  We feel life has no purpose & no meaning.  It helps us to reconnect with who we are, what we ant and what we need from life.  Through the process of releasing old hurts, we are able to reclaim our personal power & become active participants in our own lives.  It provides you with practical tools to enable you to continue the process of self-empowerment and self-discovery.  This course is held at Amazing Grace Centre of Awareness – Magaliesburg.

Counselling Skills- (14 weeks, 3 hours per week) The course is aimed at equipping & empowering you to understand and implement true communication skills.  The course teaches you to know how to use counselling skills to help you and your client to explore and understand the emotions that lead to conflict within.  Life skills assists you to empower and identify choices available in order to take 100% responsibility and charge of you life.  We all need to be heard… Skills covered:  listening, problem solving model, reflecting, stages of loss, acknowledging, victim triangle, empathy, attitude & choice, questioning, dynamics of death & dying, exploring, holistic care, confrontation, care for self, empowering, feelings & their purpose.  This course is held at our Support Centre in Krugersdorp

 Understanding Loss – (1 day or 2 hours) Loss is a reality which occur in our lives from the day that we are born…  losses come in different packages with different feelings and contents, even though our content of the loss is different our feelings are the same, the aims of this programme are to empower you to understand what loss is, how loss affects us, understanding feelings associated with loss, the stages of loss, how to deal with someone experiencing loss and what you can do as a caring professional.

How to start a support group – (6-8 weeks, 4 hours per week) Skills on how to start & run a support group, group dynamics, communication skills are covered to ensure the quality of the support group, resources & brainstorming on specific support groups.

Bereavement – (3 days) Dynamics of death and dying, the process of grief, the experience of bereavement.  It provides a close and caring environment in which grief can be shared in an effort to ease the very personal burden of bereavement.  Counsellors also attend this course if they feel the want to work specifically with bereavement patients.

AIDS workshop – (1 day) An holistic approach to HIV/AIDS, how to cope and care for those with HIV/AIDS, Empowerment skills to those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.

Debriefing – (2 days) A course aimed at counsellors & staff doing HIV testing & counselling.  The programme includes: Brainstorming of problems & challenges, off loading & debriefing, creative sharing (drumming, drawing, music, relaxation exercises), problem solving (holistic living, communication, skills), power of attitude, empowerment tools, way forward and caring for self.  A gift of love is given to each participant.

Mission Statement:

Our Hospice Generously provides quality palliative care to all affected by the realities of a life threatening illness!

PO Box 1694, Krugersdorp, 1740