Paawan Dham- A Hospice service
Nishkam is a Hindi word which means “Selfless service” and Nishkam Sewa Ashram, Daad Ludhiana striving to fulfill this definition through the services rendered to needy ones in the society.
We serve the cancer patients when curative treatment is no longer beneficial and life expectancy is not more than six months. The chief objective of Paawan Dham- Hospice project is to render a quality care for the dying cancer patients. Paawan Dham’s health professionals and volunteers will provide medical, psychological and spiritual support to the terminally sick patients and their families. Facilities provided at Paawan Dham include food, medical care, pain management, counseling and boarding.
Dr. Raman Arora M.D., HOD, Mohan Dai Oswal Cancer Hospital, Ludhiana has consented to work as chief Medical advisor of the project. Two MBBS doctors, one BAMS doctor and two Nurses are appointed. Health care team of physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors, spiritual leaders, therapists, and trained volunteers cares the patients, offering support based on their particular areas of expertise. Together, they provide comprehensive palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.
What Is Hospice Care?
History of Hospice is rooted in the centuries-old idea of offering a place of shelter and rest or “hospitality” to weary and sick travellers on a long journey. Dame Cicely Saunders at St. Christopher’s Hospice in London first applied the term “hospice” to specialized care for dying patients in 1967. Today, hospice care provides humane and compassionate care for people in the last phases of incurable disease so that they may live as fully and comfortably as possible.
Doctors decide together when hospice services should begin. If condition of patient improves or the disease goes into remission, you can be discharged from the hospice program and return to active cancer treatment, if desired. Hospice care may be resumed at a later time.
Hospice is a philosophy of care. The hospice philosophy recognizes death as the final stage of life and seeks to enable patients to continue an alert, pain-free life and to manage other symptoms so that their last days may be spent with dignity and quality, surrounded by their loved ones. Hospice affirms life and neither hastens nor postpones death. Hospice care treats the person rather than the disease; it emphasizes quality rather than length of life. It provides family-centered care involving the patient and family in making decisions. Care is provided for the patient and family 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Hospice care can be given in the patient’s home, a hospital, nursing home, or private hospice facility. Hospice care can be given in the home, with a family member serving as the main hands-on caregiver.
Hospice Care Services
Hospice care has several elements that distinguish it from other health care.
Interdisciplinary Team: Typically, an interdisciplinary health care team provides comprehensive palliative care aimed at relieving symptoms and giving social, emotional, and spiritual support.
Pain and Symptom Control: The objective of pain and symptom control means that side effects are managed to ensure that you are as free of pain and symptoms as possible, yet still alert enough to make important decisions.
Spiritual Care: Hospice care emphasizes the spiritual needs.
Home Care and Inpatient care: Although hospice care can be centered in the home, it may be necessary to be admitted to a hospital, extended-care facility, or a hospice inpatient facility.
Respite Care: While patients are in hospice, their family and caregivers may need some time away from the intensity of care-giving. Hospice service offers them a break through respite care, which is provided in 5-day periods.
Paawan Dham Provides
§ Practical and emotional support following diagnosis of a life-threatening illness
§ Specialist palliative care team
§ Palliative care nurses on call 24 hours every day
§ Management of pain and symptoms
§ Companionship and family support by trained volunteers
§ Emotional and spiritual support
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is involved in hospice care?
Hospice builds on a family-centered team approach. The care-giving team includes a physician, nurse, social worker, home health aide, specially trained volunteers and a pastoral counselor. Together with the patient and family, they formulate a plan of care which includes medications for pain control, necessary medical equipment and comfort or support services as personal care, emotional support and homemaking services.
What if my family needs a break?
Respite care is available in the home on a limited basis and in the hospital for up to five days. Hospice acknowledges and supports the need for family members to take care of their own personal needs or to take a break from patient care activities.
Who pays for hospice care?
Volunteer services are also provided to patients. Most of the families opt to donate to Nishkam. In case, the patient is covered by medical insurance policy, the Insurance will pay the fixed amount on treatment.
General InformationNishkam Sewa Ashram runs old-age home for elderly citizens, schools for street and slum children, special vocational projects for rural women, free hospitals and dispensaries for needy and poor patients, and home for Orphans and unwanted Children, Home for mentally challenged women and girls.
To volunteer, please call 91-0161-2806296, and 2806283