What do we do at Ave Maria Hospice ?
- Comfort from pain and other symptoms: Patients who are in the advanced stages of an illness often experience symptoms like bladder obstruction, pressure sores due to lack of movement, intense pain, anxiety, renal and heart complications, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, infections, bowel and bladder incontinence and so on. Our physicians and nurses are available 24/7 to assess these symptoms and provide needed relief.
- Psychological and spiritual support: Patients with terminal diagnoses and their families require tremendous emotional and spiritual support. Fear, anxiety about the future, anticipatory grief, denial, anger, guilt and depression are some of the commonly experienced emotional reactions of patients as well as their loved ones which needs to be addressed. Additionally, in the advanced stages of an illness, saying goodbye and bringing closure to relationships is crucial for healing. Our palliative care team provides psychological and emotional support to patients and their families which extends beyond the death of a patient to include bereavement services.
- Combination of traditional and alternative therapies: Our aim is to integrate complementary therapies with traditional treatments in order to provide relief from pain and to enhance the overall functioning of the individual. Alternative healing practices like relaxation therapy, massage, physiotherapy, yoga, and music therapy are used to relieve physical and psychological symptoms that are associated with the disease process which promote holistic well-being.
- Training Health Assistants: We recruit and train young men/women from low-income families in basic nursing care which encompasses wound care, housekeeping, nutrition, feeding, bathing and grooming of end-stage patients. During the tenure of their training, a stipend of Rs. 2000/- per month is provided and the women trainees are provided free board and accommodation at the hospice.
- Palliative care on wheels: Our ambulatory home care services are available for psychological support, basic nursing care and pain management in the comforts of the patient’s own home. Our future goal is to reach out to all the neighbouring communities especially in the rural areas around Mangalore with mobile palliative care units on wheels to cater to the needs of patients.
Ave Maria Palliative Care 