From palliative care to hospice services, we take the time to listen and honor your choices as we walk with you through life’s journey.
Definition of palliative care- to prevent and relieve suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other related problem, physical, psychosomatic and spiritual, (World Health Organization, 2018).
Counselling in palliative care is defined as skilled consultation between professional and patient in, which each draws on the expertise and knowledge of the other in order to assist the patient with any physical, psychosocial or spiritual issues he would like to explore. The expertise and knowledge of the counsellor exist as a result of training and experience, self-awareness and awareness of his culture and value system, (SA Fam Pract. 2006).
Terminally ill patient need to prepare for death- In the 1960s in the USA, Dr Elizabeth Kübler-Ross demonstrated to medical staff and students that some terminally ill patients wanted to be able to talk to someone about what was happening to their bodies, about the meaning of their illness, their relationships, their fears and hopes, their spirituality, (SA Fam Pract. 2006).
Importance of palliative counselling- A diagnosis of cancer scares a patient, especially when it is a diagnosis in an advance stage and is metastatic. Depression, anxiety, anger and confusion may result after knowing of their life-threatening ailment. The support provided by the counsellor helps the patient to normalize by boosting their mental strength to battle this condition; and the unprecedented effects like chemotherapy and loss of hair. The family members equally need counselling so that they can accept the new normal and provide support and quality life to the patient. Some medical health care providers also need to process vicarious trauma caused by frequent exposure to horrific situations like death.
Share with a Counsellor -Agency brings counselling close to patients, their families and health caregivers close to them, making it accessible and affordable. The terminally ill patient should access counselling more often but it a service mostly provided in health facilities. When the patient is a home it may not be possible to access counselling services, much as they are very crucial to their recovery. Share with a counsellor palliative counsellors are coming in that space to bring counselling at home for both the family, patient and health care professionals, via their mobile phones through the Share with a Counsellor Mobile App.
