St Francis Hospice

40 Piet Uys Street, Westering
Humansdorp, Eastern Cape
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ABOUT US

St Francis Hospice is dedicated to improving the quality of life of patients with life threatening illnesses. Through love, care and professional medical support we provide a program of palliative care which encompasses the holistic care of patients whose disease is no longer responsive to curative treatment.

Support also extends to the household members of those afflicted.

Providing a service of care and support, St Francis Hospice is available to the communities of the Nelson Mandela Metropole and Kouga areas.

No charge is directly levied for the care we offer, but we do encourage those who can afford it to make a contribution towards the costs which currently run to on average R1650 per patient, per month.

St Francis Hospice is a member of the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA) and is committed to upholding the national standards of the Association.

You matter because you are. You matter until the very last moment of your life, and we will do all we can – not only to help you die peacefully, but to live until you die.” Dame Cecily Saunders – Founder of the Modern Hospice Movement

SERVICES

WHY CALL US?

If you have just received the news that you have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, you might feel afraid, angry and uncertain. Our professional staff will support and care for you ensuring that you live each day to the fullest, free of pain and with dignity.

HOME CARE

Our doctors, sisters, social workers, care workers and trained volunteers are available during normal working hours and via a 24-hour emergency telephone contact service.

Home care is central to our service. Trained sisters visit patients and families in their own homes as often as required. They liaise with the patient’s doctor to maintain effective pain and symptom control, teach the family basic nursing tasks, and also provide emotional support for the patient and family. This interdisciplinary service extends into the bereavement period and links into social intervention practices for orphan & vulnerable children care. Currently, on average, 400 patients per month are in our care.

In addition, Home Care offers:

  • Expertise in pain and symptom control
  • Loan of equipment
  • Teaching families basic nursing tasks
  • Nutritional advice
  • Hospice also liaises with:
  • GP’s and hospital doctors
  • State and Private Hospitals
  • Primary Health Care Clinics
  • Community Services
  • Nursing agencies

INTEGRATED COMMUNITY-BASED HOME CARE (ICHC)

This program was developed to address the increasing numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS referred for care, and has been utilised at Hospice since 1999.

The core elements are:

  • Use of well trained and professionally supervised Community Caregivers to deliver home care that includes a quality palliative care component.
  • State hospitals and primary health care clinics work in partnership with Hospice.
  • Good management of opportunistic infections at home.
  • Improved pain and symptom control in hospital.
  • Motivated, committed health care workers providing a continuum of care.
  • Linked to HIV/AIDS prevention and could include Anti-retro Viral Treatment (ART).
  • Promotes networking and strengthens other community initiatives.

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

This takes the form of counselling for those family members needing support after the passing of a loved one. Support may be one-on-one, by phone, in person or in a group setting. The St Francis Hospice bereavement team endeavors to provide a grief support service that is culturally sensitive, age-group appropriate and holistic in approach.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

The Lesley Lawson Centre of Palliative Learning is the HPCA (Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa) accredited training centre for the Eastern Cape. Various courses are provided for both professional and lay people. The Palliative Nursing Course, accredited by the Foundation for Professional Development, is offered to registered nurses. Hospice is committed to creating awareness of Palliative Care whenever the opportunity arises.

St Francis Hospice provides the following courses:

  • Palliative Care
  • Home-based Care
  • Bereavement Training
  • Ongoing in-service education for staff and also conducts workshops based on the needs of the communities. 

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT & INFECTION CONTROL SUPPLIES

With some 400 patients per month entrusted to our care, it is inevitable that we are in constant need of medical and infection control supplies and equipment.

VEHICLES FOR PATIENT TRANSPORT AND VISITATION

Hospice care-givers, nurses, doctors and social workers cover a territory stretching to Tsitsikamma, including communities in and around Humansdorp, Jeffrey’s Bay, Cape St Francis, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth.

MEMBERSHIP

Membership means that you are one of a special group of people whose regular financial support for Hospice makes a contribution towards meeting the needs of patients and families.

Benefits of Membership:

  • Voting rights at General Meetings & the AGM
  • A copy of our bi-annual newsletter
  • News on forthcoming fundraising events
  • A chance to win R2000 in the annual membership draw held in December

Membership runs from 1 April – 31 March annually. Should you wish to enroll as a member contact Kerry on (041) 360 7070 or e-mail her on kerry@stfrancishospice.za.org

  • Annual membership fee: R100.00 per annum
  • Life membership fee: R1200 once-off payment

ADMISSION CRITERIA

WHO QUALIFIES FOR HOSPICE CARE?

Hospice care is available to anyone with an advancing and potentially terminal illness, who is likely to benefit from the skills of the hospice care team. This includes those with Cancer, HIV/AIDS and Motor Neurone Disease. We require the patient’s permission and a referral from their medical doctor for our services to commence. To all our patients we offer an inter-disciplinary team which includes, but is not limited to, doctors, nurses, social workers, care workers, clergy and volunteers.

WHAT IS PALLIATIVE CARE?

Palliative care is the holistic care of someone diagnosed with a life threatening illness. It aims to maintain and improve the quality of life of patients, and offers support during the course of the illness and, following the death of the patient, for their family and friends. It includes pain management and symptom control, psychological, emotional and spiritual counselling and is offered to any and all whether or not they are able to pay. For more information, see the World Health Organization’s definitions of palliative care for adults and children.

PALLIATIVE CARE PROVIDES:

  • Relief from pain and other distressing symptoms.
  • Affirms life and regards dying as a normal process.
  • Intends neither to hasten nor postpone death.
  • Integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care.
  • Offers a support system to help patients to live as actively as possible until passing away.
  • Offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their bereavement.
  • Uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counseling, if required.
  • Will enhance the quality of life of patients and positively influence the course of illness.
  • Is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are implemented to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.

VOLUNTEERS

St Francis Hospice relies heavily on volunteers for assistance in many areas. The success of Hospice can be attributed to the hard work of many dedicated men and women who, over the years, have generously offered their time and expertise to the cause. The following are areas in which volunteers are most effective:

  • Patient Care: On completion of training in the field of Patient Care, volunteers are a valuable asset to our Hospice and are deployed to care for patients in their own homes.
  • Bereavement Support: On completion of the bereavement course, trained volunteer counsellors help families to cope with the loss of a loved one.
  • Hospice Shops: Help us meet customer needs with a friendly face and willing hands.
  • Tending our Gardens: A group of volunteers keep the Hospice garden in tip-top condition. Share your knowledge and love of plants with us.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

We have a number of projects requiring your partnership.St Francis Hospice operating costs alone amount to several millions of Rands per year. Patients do pay as much as they can afford, but often this is little, or nothing. Apart from any subsidies we might receive, in the main we have to rely on bequests and donations from companies, service clubs, and caring people like you. NO donation is ever “too small.” We invite you to select the project you’d like to support from the list below.

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PROJECTS REQUIRING YOUR PARTNERSHIP:

Share the caring through your Will:

Someone once said, “One of the noblest things a person can do, is to plant a small tree that will one day give shade to people unknown.” Your will can have the same powerful significance of that small tree. It will take care of those you love and who depend on you for security, well-being and guidance. It can even extend further, making a difference in the lives of people you will never meet, uniting the importance of your life with theirs.

Remembering St Francis Hospice in your will is a gift to future life, in rememberance of your own life. And just like a “small tree,” your bequest can grow, becoming a living, sheltering extension of your own appreciation of life. At St Francis Hospice we care for the living – and you can share in the caring, through your Will, by making this last, most important gift to life: A gift that will make you forever part of the circle of caring that is St Francis Hospice.

Once you’ve decided on the type of bequest you wish to make, all that remains is to ask your attorney to draft the appropriate clause for inclusion in your Will. If you care enough to make St Francis Hospice part of your will, please will you tell us? The saddest thing is not being able to say “Thank You!” for a gesture of caring. We would also appreciate the opportunity to discuss with you special plans for St Francis Hospice that may reflect your particular area of interest and support.

The St Francis Hospice bereavement team endeavours to provide a grief support service that is culturally sensitive, age-group appropriate, and holistic in approach.

Where…

  • Language and medium of facilitation is taken into cognizance.
  • Confidentiality and dignity of the client is taken seriously.
  • Specific spiritual care is provided.
  • Your contribution towards palliative care training would be HIGHLY appreciated. At present, St Francis Hospice provides the following courses:
  • Palliative Care
  • Home-based Care
  • Bereavement Training
  • Ongoing in-service education for staff
  • We also conduct workshops based on the needs of the communities we serve. For example:
  • Inter-professional workshops at the NMB University and Department of Health – covering dying, bereavement, and psycho-social issues.
  • Awareness programs, via talks on radio, at funerals and churches.
  • Presentations to students.

St Francis Hospice will also be catering to the training and orientation of USA exchange students (through UPE) in public health and intervention practices from a South African perspective.

Home care is central to our service. Trained sisters visit patients and families in their own homes as often as required. They liaise with the patient’s doctor to obtain effective pain and symptom control, teach the family basic nursing tasks, and also provide emotional support for the patient and family. Supported by the Hospice doctor, social workers and trained volunteers, they are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This interdisciplinary service extends into the bereavement period, and links into social intervention practices for orphan care. Won’t you please support this most laudable service?

Often HIV affected children and grandparents live without regular meals or hope, as bread-winning parents die. In the process of dealing with this trauma and loss – as well as trying to survive, they require socialization & assistance. Psychosocial help and properly managed bereavement counselling is required if they are to mature without personality disorders. This is done in first language Xhosa and in observance of their culture.

With some 400 patients per month entrusted to our care, it’s inevitable that we’re in constant need of medical and infection control supplies. and equipment. Whether you can donate “in kind” or in cash, rest assured that you’ll be alleviating the plight of those less fortunate. Isn’t that one of our primary reasons for being?

Patron (individual) membership means that you are one of a special group of people whose financial support for Hospice makes a significant contribution towards meeting any shortfall in operating expenses. The St Francis Hospice Trust (where these funds are allocated) will continue to be a “lifeline” to Hospice to provide for future needs.

We will continue to ensure that funds are managed appropriately for the cause they were intended, and will gladly provide you with any financial reports you may require.

St Francis Hospice care-givers, nurses, doctors and social workers cover a territory stretching from Tsitsikamma to Addo, including communities in and around Humansdorp, Jeffrey’s Bay, Cape St Francis, Uitenhage and Port Elizabeth. The cost of running our fleet of vehicles (maintenance, fuel & insurance) is a major annual expenditure, and we’d be immensely grateful for any assistance you can provide with sponsorship of fuel, etc to help us reach our patients.

St Francis Hospice fundraisers host about 15 special events annually. Sponsorship is needed for functions such as our Ladies’ Champagne Breakfast, Last Night of the Proms concert of popular classics with the Eastcape Philharmonic Orchestra (conducted by Richard Cock). As a sponsor, you gain naming rights to the event, extensive logo / brand advertising, and comprehensive media acknowledgement.

If you have any old “coppers” lying about in tins, bottles or piggy banks, won’t you please consider donating them to St Francis Hospice? These coins will be phased out of circulation in a couple of years’ time, so before that happens, let’s use them towards a noble cause – to meet the costs of providing holistic, home-based care of terminally ill Cancer, Motor-Neurone and HIV/AIDS patients in our community.

MEET THE TEAM

Dr Phillip H. Gutsche
President
Sr Lesley Lawson
Chairperson
Dr Daniel R. Malan
Vice-Chairperson
Ms Janice Malkinson
Ex Officio
Mr Trevor Wiblin
Ex Officio
Mr Jack Bhana
Business
Ms Dudu Dilima
Patient Care
Sr Florence Arends
Patient Care
Mr Leslie Strydom
Legal
Mr Martin Veeren
Financial Board Member
Sr Nonceba Mdaka
Palliative Care
Rev Roxane Jordaan
Spiritual

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