Chandigarh : World Hospice & Palliative Care Day was celebrated at the Chandigarh Hospice, Sector 43, Chandigarh on 12th October 2012. The inmates of the Sector 15 Old Age Home were invited and escorted to the Chandigarh Hospice. After serving them some refreshments, arrangements were made for a Satsang by the Art of Living Group. The seniors were very happy to take part in the Satsang & a few of them also sang bhajans. After this they enjoyed playing games which were organised by the volunteers of the Hospice.
The function was attended by Mr Mohammed Shayin, Deputy Commissioner & other members of the Chandigarh Administration. The faculty & doctors of the PGI Radiotherapy Department were also there. The DC distributed gifts to the senior citizens & interacted with them .They were very thankful and wanted to sing & dance for his entertainment.
After lunch they were escorted back to the Old Age Home. They were all excited to open their gifts. Most of them felt that it had been a short interaction & wished to stay longer & enjoy some more dance & song. While bidding farewell to the Hospice Staff they all had only one question “when will you invite us again?” some also asked “will you also invite us for Diwali?”
The theme for this year is, “Living to the end: palliative care for an ageing population ”. 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.