Hospice Malta, an NGO that provides and promotes free palliative care to those suffering life-limiting illnesses, will be organising a nationwide fundraiser to sustain its vast array of services provided to patients and their families on Friday during TV programme Xarabank.
“We believe that our patients are unique and valued individuals and our main aim is to preserve their independence, dignity and quality of life. We offer their families and friends an environment where they feel accepted and safe while also providing them support during the patient’s illness and during the time of bereavement,” said Hospice Malta’s chairwoman Maria Gatt.
“Our future plans include the setting up and running of a complex dedicated entirely to providing free comprehensive palliative care to patients. This complex will be Malta’s first facility and will significantly enhance the present palliative care services to patients in their own homes and communities,” she added.
Founded in 1989, Hospice Malta provides palliative care for patients suffering from cancer, motor-neuron disease and end-of-life cardiac, respiratory, renal and liver diseases.
Hospice Malta offers its services via a multidisciplinary team whose services include a home service delivered by the team, including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, social workers, therapists and the Hospice chaplain; day therapy services offering various activities for patients, including physiotherapy, spiritual and emotional support, crafts and hairdressing and hydrotherapy; professional care at the patients’ home to support the patient, while also serving as a form of respite to family members; as well as an after-hours on-call service.
Specialised equipment such as fully motorised beds, lifters, wheelchairs, mobility equipment, respiratory equipment and syringe drivers are also provided according to the patients’ needs. This greatly improves the independence of the patient and saves them the cost of purchasing equipment, thus allowing them to live in their own home surrounded by their loved ones at this most vulnerable time.
New patients referred to Hospice Malta are followed prior to discharge from hospital, whereas already registered Hospice Malta patients are also followed up at the hospital, ensuring seamless intervention in both cases. Hospice Malta also provides bereavement support services to the patients’ families following the patients’ demise.The patient-and-family-centred palliative care offered targets the relief of pain and other physical symptoms, as well as emotional, psychosocial and spiritual issues.