Chandigarh : Palliative Care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families. It provides humane and compassionate care, for people in the last phases of an incurable disease, or those that need support, so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible till the end. It offers a holistic approach of physical, emotional, social and spiritual care not only to the patient but also to their families, and caregivers through team work, education and empowerment.
Last year, 682 new patients and 2500 follow up patients were seen in the outpatient Palliative Care Clinic in the Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER, Chandigarh. 93 patients were supported by the home care team and 474 patients were admitted to the Chandigarh Hospice for symptom management & supportive care.
The Palliative Care Clinic of PGIMER since 1998 is of tremendous help to terminally ill patients who do not have to wait for their turn in a busy Out Patient department. Since February 2000, a free Home Care Service has been started for patients in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula who are too sick to attend the hospital. For the patients who cannot be managed at home and who need specialized institutional care to control their symptom, Chandigarh Hospice was started in Jan 2003 as a free indoor service for terminally ill patients. Hospice combines the hospital care with the leisurely hospitality and warmth of the home.
As life expectancy increases, there is an increase in number of elderly people who need care and support. The population of the elderly in India was projected at 99.2 million in 2011 and is expected to rise to 140 million by 2021. The housing data from Census 2011 also shows that the number of persons per household has come down substantially. Declining fertility, migration and nuclearisation of families are possible reasons for this. A study by HelpAge India suggested that 45% of the elderly live alone or with their spouse. Thus the elderly require various kinds of support even for their day to day work. In case of medical problems the caregiver too needs support as they find it difficult to cope alone. Palliative care is therefore of growing public health importance, as it is a form of treatment that emphasizes comfort care but does not require the person to have a terminal condition.
Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the Palliative Care movement said, “You matter because you are you, and you matter until the last moment of your life.” — Let us all join hands on this Palliative Care Day to make this statement true for all those that need our care!
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day will be celebrated on 13 October 2012. It is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. The theme for this year is, “Living to the end: palliative care for an ageing population.
The Chandigarh model of Palliative Care which integrates palliative care into cancer care, is a joint project of the Department of Radiotherapy at PGIMER, Chandigarh & Indian Red Cross Society, UT Branch, Chandigarh.
The Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER will be celebrating the day on 12th October 2012 at the Chandigarh Hospice. As the theme this year is Palliative Care for the ageing population, the inmates of the Old Age Home from Sector 15 have been invited to the Hospice in Sector 43 to give them a day out & some entertainment. We will bring them to the Hospice & after some refreshments and have a satsang by the Art of Living group, then make them play some games & present gifts to the winners. Lunch will be served to all.