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La Maison d’Hérelle is known for its
knowledge about alternative approaches to medicine.
Different approaches are offered to our patients,
such as aromatherapy, massage therapy, art therapy
and zoo therapy. We have an in-house doctor who
intervenes when patients are unable to see their
own family doctor. We have the privilege to witness
the evolution of the patients and our constant eye
on their situation helps us to identify when and
how we are best able to provide relief.
Our patients have the opportunity to live in
an environment in which they are respected in
all the stages they pass through. We accept the
patients as they are and try to follow their rhythm
as much as possible. Instead of having a rigid
framework within which everyone should fit, we
try to adjust our framework so each person can
find his own place in the house. That’s why
we have a personal care plan for each patient,
which is written with the patient and adapted
to his own needs. The care plan helps the team
to work together with the patient and ensures
that the care given is informed and consistent.
We have regular team meetings in which we share
our observations and try to see how we can make
patients feel more comfortable and to the best
of our abilities, ensure that their needs are
met.
We also give special attention to the family
and friends of our residents. We always take time
to answer their questions, to explain what they
need to understand and to support them. Once they
feel at ease, we include the patient’s close
ones in the care that we provide to their loved
one. The major task for us is to give them information
about the disease and the nature of the end-of-life
care. We offer psychological support too. By being
a support to the family or friend, they have a
better understanding of the disease and its implications,
which makes them more receptive to the patient’s
reality. This in turn improves the quality of
life of the patient.
By staying in a hospice, our patients are able
to focus on what is important to them, and we
take care of all the other things that guarantee
their comfort. We encourage them to actively participate
in improving the quality of their life. We support
them in doing what they are able to do and to
stay autonomous for as much as possible and as
long as possible.
The success of our hospice is based on our approach.
We include patients in the decision making process
as much as possible. We feel the solidarity and
camaraderie, not only among staff members and
volunteers, but also among the patients. It is
not always easy, but the people in the hospice
do their best to create a pleasant atmosphere
by respecting everyone’s differences. We
believe that those differences are a strength
rather than a weakness. We learn a lot by living
with difference. We learn about others but we
also learn a lot about ourselves too.
La Maison d’Hérelle is truly a home
for many people. We have people who have stayed
with us that come back to visit because they miss
the place. Others come back to do volunteer work
or to join the team. When we pass by Maison d’Hérelle,
we remember it is a hospice full of life, respect
and dignity.
I hope that in future, more hospices will rise
up to provide this kind of quality palliative
care, especially in areas of the world such as
India, where facilities for palliative care are
few and far between. I trust that we can bring
back human values like compassion and co-operation
and that we can fight against the loneliness so
often brought about by disease.
PATIENT'S STORIES
Cancer patients and their loved ones are invited
to write to us about their views, thoughts and
feelings. We will include as many letters, articles
and stories as is possible in these web pages.
Please send your article to Nani Ma: nanima@gangapremhospice.org
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