Sixteen nurses at the White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation (WYCCF) received training in palliative care last week. The course was given by Ilse Snijder, who specialized as a palliative care nurse and has been working in the WYCCF hospice since October 2020. The training focused on caring for palliative care clients and their loved ones. Communication, coping mechanisms, most common symptoms, and how to alleviate them to a minimum. Advanced care planning was trained to be prepared for the unexpected. Experiences were shared, which added to the learning process from each other. The training was organized to improve further and professionalize the WYCCF Hospice care facility.
The training focused on
Hospice care is a type of healthcare that focuses on treating a terminally ill client’s symptoms and attending to their emotional and spiritual needs at the end of life. Hospice care prioritizes comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering. The Hospice at the St. Martin’s Home of the WYCCF opened in October 2019 and specializes in providing this type of (palliative) end-of-life care.
Palliative care is an approach that improves clients’ quality of life (adults and children) and their families and loved ones who are facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness. It is all about trying our absolute best to make the client feel safe, comfortable, loved, and well taken care of. We prefer to call it comfort care since the aim is to improve the quality of life for the client and the loved ones around them.
In palliative care, the goal is to prevent or treat symptoms by early observations and adequate response to problems described by the client. Some symptoms are not 100 % preventable or treatable. However, we will make sure the client is as comfortable as possible in their situation. This kind of care requires an interdisciplinary team approach; therefore, we work together with other healthcare professionals to provide quality of life. The WYCCF Hospice works with an around-the-clock professional nursing staff team. The team consists of caring healthcare workers, who collaborate with a physical therapist, speech therapist, and occupational therapist to provide the highest quality care.
In the WYCCF Hospice, the clients have their own private room. The client’s family and loved ones are always welcome, even to sleep over (rooming-in) when this is preferred. All bedrooms have double doors to a porch and garden where small gatherings with family and friends can take place. The Hospice has a fully equipped kitchen if visitors wish to cook a meal for their loved ones.
The process of terminal illness can also be very hard on the people around the client. Not only emotionally but also practically, since they often still have jobs or other responsibilities to uphold too. We often see that the loved one then takes on the role of caregiver, which can prevent from having a proper goodbye. Hospice care, therefore, takes away the practical part of providing care so that the family and loved ones can once again take on the role of partner, spouse, or friends and say goodbye together.
Palliative care within the home setting is also possible; if someone prefers to stay home at the last stage of life, they will receive proper guidance and care at home. The district nursing team of the WYYCF is being further trained and skilled by our specialized Palliative Care nurse to provide this end-of-life care.
There is no end in caring; therefore, when it is time to round off our earthly journey, it is wished for everyone to do this so that the last days are spent with quality of life.
If you wish to receive more information, or you would like to make an appointment to visit our Hospice, don’t hesitate to get in touch with +1721 5484431 extensions 416 or email: hospice@whiteyellowcross.org.
“We don’t add days to your life but life to your days.” C. Saunders – Founder of Hospice Care
The White & Yellow Cross Care Foundation #trustedcare
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