"I would like to thank you on behalf of my husband and my family for being there, heart and soul, for how you lent a loving supportive hand to all of us in a nonintrusive way, for giving us all a lesson in what really counts in life"
THROUGH ITS PROVISION OF HANDS-ON MEDICAL, NURSING AND PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE, THE HOSPICE CARE UNIT IS THE BEDROCK OF WHAT WE AT SANAD DELIVER TO OUR PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
This unit provides patients and families with holistic medical, nursing, and psychosocial care according to best practices and evidence-based knowledge in palliative and hospice care; including but not limited to:
- Assessment of physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and cultural aspects by the interdisciplinary team
- Identification of patient's and family's priority needs and preferences - Coordination with patient's primary physician
- Assessment and management of pain and other physical symptoms using validated assessment tools and international management guidelines Provision of medications, medical supplies and equipment Provision of continuous education to the patient and family about disease process, symptom management, treatments and side effects, end-of-life issues, etc.
- Provision of compassionate psycho-social support to patient and family to ensure a sense of security and serenity
- Provision of bereavement support to the family through out the grieving process
HOSPICE CARE
Hospice care shares the same principles with palliative care, however it is designed to give supportive care to patients in their final phase of a terminal illness and it focuses on comfort and quality of life. At the center of hospice philosophy is the belief that each of us has the right to die with dignity and with minimal pain. Hospice care aims to relieve patients from pain and other distressing symptoms, and offers a support system (for both patients and families) to help patients live as actively and comfortably as possible. It also focuses on providing psychological and spiritual support to help the patient and the family cope during the patient's illness and in their own bereavement.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM HOSPICE CARE
Our psychologists work with medical and nursing teams to provide updates on both, patient and caregiver's wellbeing, in addition to ensuring a continuous flow of psycho-social support across all care providers within SANAD’s teams. The psychologists also advise the executive team on how to manage and facilitate complex issues faced with families and patients, and provide regular training on best practices, coping mechanisms, communication skills, and other essential information that effectively assists the team in providing more holistic care.
PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care is an approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients and their families as they face problems associated with a deblilitating diseases. It focuses on the prevention and relief from suffering through impeccable assessment and treatment of pain, as well as other physical, psychosocial and spiritual challenges. Palliative care teams (professionals) are multi-disciplinary in their nature and comprise of doctors, nurses, psychologists add may also include social workers, registered dieticians and pharmacists. All members of a palliative care team work together to coordinate the care and support provided to both, patients and their families.
WHO IS PALLIATIVE CARE FOR
Patients who suffer from cancer, Alzheimer's and other dementias, cirrhosis of the liver, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, diabetes, HIV/ AIDS, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and other advanced illnesses can benefit from palliative care.