THE main priority for Pink Trees for Pauline during June is to lend a helping hand at the Somerset East Hospice Centre, where assistance is sorely needed, especially during winter.
What is hospice care? It is a type of care that focuses on the palliation of chronically ill, terminally ill or seriously ill patients’ pain and symptoms while also attending to their emotional and spiritual needs.
Hospice care institutions provide care mostly in an end-of-life setting, but they may also be available for patients with other specific palliative care needs.
Hospice care also involves assistance and support for patients who prefer to stay at home, as well as patients’ families to help them cope with what is happening to them.
In South Africa, hospice is seen as a guaranteed benefit and an accepted component of health care provisions.
In Somerset East, the hospice centre is in Beaufort Street and the manager is Fikiswa Takayi, assisted by a staff nurse and administration clerk.
At the moment they have eight patients with cancer at home whom they support and over 260 patients they look after.
They care for patients who have HIV, cancer, diabetes or who have had strokes, as well as patients who are disabled.
Fortunately they have an Avanza vehicle which they use to get to patients and also to collect medicine at clinics or the hospital to administer to them.
Volunteers from Pink Trees will collect old linen, blankets, towels, slippers, pyjamas, socks, warm clothes like jerseys and track suits, curtains, carpets, magazines and newspapers to give to the centre.
Contact details for the hospice centre are: 042 243 3149 or 064 608 2194.
The contact person for Pink Trees is Maryke Schoonbee and she can be reached at 082 858 3815.