Ladybrand Hospice

General information

1. HOME BASED CARE PROGRAMME

Approximately 340 terminally ill patients are cared for in their own homes by an inter-disciplinary team which provide specialised care with emphasis on symptom and pain Patient Visitcontrol as well as psychosocial, spiritual and cultural needs. Appropriate referrals are made to Primary Health Care Clinics and hospitals as the need arise. The psychological distress of family members is positively influenced when they experience that their loved ones are cared for during the terminal phase of illness.

Patients are referred by local doctors, the hospital, clinics and by family members with the patient’s permission, or by self-referral. Depending on the patient’s condition they are assessed by a Professional Nurse within 3 working days. An individual Care Plan is drawn up according to the needs of the patient. The patient is assigned to a Home Based Carer who is the link between the patient/family and Ladybrand Hospice. The Interdisciplinary Team (IDT) involves Nursing and Social Work staff who are responsible to implement the Care Plan. Expanded patient care is delivered through the following programs at Hospice House:

PAEDIATRIC PATIENT SUPPORT GROUPS
Fifteen (15) Paediatric patients meet every second week on Wednesday afternoons at Hospice House. Often Nursing and Social Work staff find it challenging to reach these children due to school hours. It is planned that the group will improve contact and communication between Hospice staff and patients. The children are collected from school and public transport fees are provided to return home. This is an opportunity for the children with similar conditions to support one another and to learn from shared experiences. Life skills will be addressed such as health education, coping skills, communication and socialization. Other activities presented are things like playing games, Memory Work and Laughter Therapy. The children receive a nutritious cooked meal on arrival and a monthly hygiene pack to encourage their personal care.

2. PSYCHOSOCIAL CARE

The Social Work Department focuses on providing psychosocial care and counseling to patients, orphans and vulnerable children (OVC’s) and Foster parents. On average, in the past 6 months, Ladybrand Hospice had ±170 OVC’s and ±40 Foster Parents on its database.

Special emphasis is placed on orphans and vulnerable children's programmes and services. Regular HIV/AIDS awareness talks and topics on Hospice services are presented to local Schools, Churches, Businesses and other interested groups.

QUARTERLY FOSTER PARENT MEETING
The aim of the programme is to support Foster Parents who are responsible for orphans and vulnerable children whose parents have passed away. It provides peer support and a programme of instruction in various life skills such as child health and nutrition, budgeting and money management, access to government welfare grants as well as their responsibilities regarding the children in their care.

QUARTERLY CHILDREN DAYS
Quarterly Children Days are held during school holidays. OVC’s attend a programme ofChildren's Day recreational activities, cultural events and life-skills instruction. Group counseling is available within specific age groups as well as individual counseling. These occasions enable Hospice staff to monitor the health, welfare and development of children and, in turn, provide them with a forum in which to express their fears, hopes and aspirations.

WEEKLY TEENAGE SUPPORT GROUP
Fifteen (15) Orphans and Vulnerable Teenagers meet every Monday afternoon at Hospice House in a non-threatening environment. It is a closed group that runs in a three (3) month cycle. Orphans and Vulnerable Teenagers with similar life circumstances have the opportunity to support one another and learn from each other’s personal experiences. Group members are collected from the local townships and public transport fees are provided to return home. On arrival the teenagers receive a nutritious cooked meal and on a monthly basis hygiene packs are handed out to the teenagers which encourage personal care. The support group focuses on addressing HIV/AIDS myths, stigma and discrimination and to learn from one another through shared experiences. Other activities involve assistance with home work and education on various life skill issues such as budgeting, self-esteem, coping skills and health education. Towards the end of the three (3) month cycle, members are prepared to exit the program and the way forwards is discussed.

DAY CARE CENTRE
The Day Care Centre provides a pre-school educational programme for sixteen (16) orphaned and vulnerable toddlers between the ages of 3 and 6 who are affected or infected by a terminal illness. The children are transported to and from Hospice House four mornings per week. They receive two meals on the days that they attend the DCC. Their progress is carefully monitored by two teachers, nursing and social work staff and appropriate interventions takes place when necessary.

SEEDS OF HOPE FOOD GARDEN PROJECT
The Food Garden Project focuses on training Foster Parents on how to cultivate food gardens in the narrow strip of land between their houses. Foster Parents often have the responsibility Food Garden to look after orphans and vulnerable children who are placed in their care after family members have passed on. This responsibility adds tremendous financial strain on the Foster Parents and by using the produce from food gardens it adds high nutritional value to their food supply. Instruction and encouragement is given by an experienced gardener and seeds and equipment are provided seasonally. Progress is monitored on a monthly basis and participants are able to compete in an annual gardening competition with monetary prizes donated by various organizations. At present we have 44 active gardens.

WOODWORKING PROJECT
This project is currently on hold due to financial constraints. We look forward to re-establishing it again in the near future with the help of volunteers. It was a very successful programme and we believe it made a big impact on the lives of those involved. The aim of the project is to allow our patients who are struggling to maintain employment due to their varying health, to gain knowledge and skills that will in turn lead to an extra income. The group is learning the basics of woodwork equipment handling, tools, health & safety, team building, marketing skills etc. They are building items like rustic wooden frames, crosses, benches, boxes etc. These are then sold at a profit and the proceeds split between Hospice and the patients.