As a long-time patient of Helderberg Hospice, we recently had an opportunity to sit with Oom Tommy and listen to his journey. Despite the difficult times he has endured with prostate cancer, his eyes sparkle with energy and a quirky sense of humour. His story is a testament to his strong will and determination. After…
Volunteers bring diversity of thought, experience, and skills, which helps us grow and adapt to changing circumstances. Their efforts help us function smoothly, and without their contributions, many of our events and services would not be possible. It is essential to show appreciation for our volunteers’ hard work, and on 21 February 2023, we hosted 58 volunteers at our annual Volunteer Appreciation Tea. This tea allowed us to express gratitude and recognize their hard work and dedication, as well as provide a chance for them to socialize with one another and share their experiences.
When considering hospice care for a loved one, there are several important questions to ask before making a decision. Below are answers to questions that can help in deciding whether or not a particular hospice palliative care facility is the right fit for your loved one’s needs and preferences.
Hospice palliative care is a type of medical care that focuses on the provision of holistic, inter-disciplinary treatment, including comfort and support to individuals who have been diagnosed with a life limiting illness. Hospice palliative care can be provided in a variety of settings, including hospice in-patient support centres, nursing homes, frail care centres and in patients’ own homes.
Helderberg Hospice are Palliative Care Specialists (Palliative Care is a holistic method of improving the quality of life of a patient, and their loved ones, who are directly affected by a life-threatening illness.) Our services are available to patients at home as well as through a specialised, short-term admission 24-Hour Support Centre. The unit offers…
Written by: Fiona Nell One is somehow always aware of there being a hospice nearby. Whether the full extent of their services becomes known, is I suppose, is dependent on the relationship entered into between hospice and the ‘patient’ & their family members. Towards the end of 2019 my mother-in-law Lorna started losing weight at…
Thandi, as we will call her, was in her early 20’s and recently had undergone an amputation at the knee as a result of osteosarcoma. She was admitted to us from Tygerberg Hospital, one of the large State hospitals in Cape Town, so that she could recuperate from the operation. Unlike the other patients who…
Written by: Dianne Waddington, Head of Social Work Many of us were taught that grief follows a stage-like progression, and once we have completed a stage, we will move on to the next with the last stage being acceptance. And with acceptance, no more of the chaos of grief. Unfortunately, grief is not an orderly…
It’s a deadly combination: South Africa’s scourge – TB – and the pandemic HIV/Aids. Where there is one, there is frequently the other; both interlinked in a complex dance of disease and deprivation. Like lethal shadows, the one stalks the other, masking symptoms, complicating treatment, spiraling the mortality statistics ever upwards. Jack was destined to…
The true meaning of life is to plant trees under whose shade you do not expect to sit Nelson Henderson A bequest is a gift in your will which costs you nothing now, and is a significant way of keeping your ideals and compassion alive while making a lasting contribution to the specialized care of…
Referral Forms All patients accepted into our home care programme must be formally referred by their doctor, hospital or clinic. Referral forms are available from the referring doctor or by email via nursing@helderberghospice.org.za. It is important that all three forms are completed. The forms are: Home Care is our core service What if I need a full-time…
Anyone who has lost a loved one knows that the intense emotions associated with grief can be overwhelming and traumatic. Our social workers together with our trained volunteer bereavement supporters, provide bereavement services and support to family members, to assist them in coping with the death and in making the necessary adjustments required in order…
