KASIH HOSPICE
Kasih Hospice Care Society (KHC) is a Charitable Organization / Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) which seeks to bring a fresh and mindful approach to care-giving for patients facing life-endangering illnesses and to their families too. By understanding that all people, irrespective of background and creed, have similar hopes and fears, especially during the season of serious illness. KHC aims to provide a delicate balance between medical services and emotional & spiritual support to help patients and their families cope; to let them know that they are not walking the path alone; to foster their ability to cherish what they still have and pacify their fears. Our team of doctors, nurses and trained volunteers may be modest in number and resources but sincere in our efforts and aspirations.
In addition to serving patients, KHC partakes in community education by hosting workshops on how to care for those with advanced diseases, bereavement care, how to live meaningfully and die well, learning from medical experts on the psychology of a person facing death, venturing into philosophical issues of how to turn adversity into an advantage, with compassion for all beings as the driving force behind this community education program.
Vision
Helping others through compassion to live well and die well
Mission
KHC serves those with life threatening illness and their family through medical, emotional and spiritual support based on compassion and skillful means.
Moto
With Compassion, We Serve
Objectives
- To provide medical, emotional and spiritual support for patients and their families, at hospitals or at home and eventually to provide an in-patient service.
- To create public awareness and interest in providing skilful hospice care through training .
- To provide a platform for volunteers to actualise spiritual cultivation as charitable practice.
Lama Thubten Zopa Rinpoche [http://www.lamazopa.com]
KHC Hospice advisor
Dr. Rosalie Shaw (Palliative Care Specialist)
*Kasih Hospice Care Society is affiliated to the Foundation For the Preservation Of Mahayana Tradition (FPMT)
KASIH HOSPICE CARE SOCIETY,KUALA LUMPUR & SELANGOR(KHC) first launched its services in 1997 with its trained volunteers visiting patients in hospitals on a regular basis to give them emotional and spiritual support. It later established its medical team in 2005 tofill a perceived service gap for those people wishing to remain at home whilst living with a life threatening illness. Most of the people who access our service have advanced cancers but there are some who suffer from serious non cancer illness such as AIDS, Motor Neurone Disease, End-stage organ failure,etc.
Palliative care is active holistic ‘whole person care’ with particular focus on pain and symptom management whilst also looking into the psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient.Our team of committed doctors, nurses and volunteers give skilful and dedicated care to those who are very ill, irrespective of race, religion, age or financial status.
We are a non-governmental organisation with a not-for-profit philosophy and our services are free of charge. We are recognised as a service provider by the public and private hospitals in Kuala Lumpur and the surrounding region.We assist people to maintain control over their lives and provide a home visitation service for those who require it. We support people of all belief systems on a non-denominational and non-discriminatory basis.
Helping others wherever one can, according to their needs, is the true expression of compassion. KHC aims to offer this gift of friendship, companionship, emotional and spiritual support to those individuals and their families who are facing life-threatening illness in a holistic manner.
KHC views palliative care as a social responsibility as well.The organisation provides training programs for volunteers and the public which aim at cultivating wisdom and compassion through service whilst also equipping them with knowledge about End of Life care.
Education & Training
Besides providing hospice service, KHC aims to create public awareness on Hospice and application of spiritual values, particularly Buddhism on death and dying. KHC provides regular hospice volunteer training and Buddhism in Hospice study group session.
Hospice Volunteer Training Courses
There are 2 levels of volunteer training courses:
- Basic course aims to introduce principles of hospice care and sharing ways to cultivate positive approaches to change, loss and death.
- Intermediate course is for volunteers who have completed basic courses and have been doing hospital visits. It includes practical nursing and communication skills as well as ways to transform one’s kindness and compassion into skillful actions.
Till 2010, we have conducted 25 basic training courses and one intermediate course.
Study Visits
KHC volunteers make study visits to hospice organizations locally and abroad. We had made visits to Dover Park Hospice,Assisi Home & Hospice,Metta Hospice Care and Bright Vision Hospital in Singapore in 2005.
Continuous Professional Development Programme
Home care service teams which consist of doctors, nurses, and trained volunteers meet every Thursday to have case discussion, to share knowledge on clinical management, mainly symptom control and discuss best ways to manage patients of different temperaments and with challenging situations.
Other Educational Activities
KHC doctors and volunteers have been invited to give talks at other NGOs, Buddhist soieties, hospitals and schools, as well as international and national Buddhist conferences.
KHC has also conducted public seminars and workshops such as:
- Hospice Public Seminar on 'The Power of the Mind' (2005) and 'The Power of Compassion'(2006)
- Dealing with death and dying for the benefit of oneself and others workshops.
Our Services
Scope of service :
Visiting patients warded at hospitals
Providing home care service to patients. Services include:
- Managing patients’ symptoms such as pain, nausea, and shortness of breath.
- Providing medication for symptom control.
- Loaning of equipments such as oxygen concentrators, ripple mattresses and wheelchairs .
- Educating patients and their families on basic nursing skills.
- Providing grieve and bereavement support
- Educating public and volunteers on practical hospice care and philosophical aspects of coping with death and loss.
Hospital visits
Volunteers visit patients at palliative, cancer, medical, HIV/Aids and leprosy wards at hospitals at a weekly basic.
Home care service
A team of doctors, nurses and trained volunteers visit patients who are at their own home.
2.1 Whom do we provide home care service?
People with advanced progressive illnesses who:
- Reside at areas in Sg Buloh, Rawang, selective areas in Damansara and Petaling Jaya Click> Area of Service
- Have a doctor’s referral Pls fill up. Click> Referral Form
- Agreed to our service
- Medical and nursing care
- Respite care
- Emotional and spiritual support
If you need our service, please contact:
Tel No: 03 79607424
Fax referral letter to 03-79566442
How much is the fees for the services provided?
KHCS services are free of charge.
VOLUNTEER
KHC service depends on volunteers.
Why volunteer?
The benefits of volunteering are many. Your offer of time and effort will enable someone to feel cared for and has a positive and peaceful state of mind at the final path of his/her journey of life. You will become part of a friendly & supportive team of volunteers. Your knowledge & skill in hospice care will increase and you may meet some memorable people or events. Best of all, you will put spiritual teaching into action and be constantly aware of death and impermanence, one of the most important teaching of the Buddha.
What do volunteers do?
- Volunteers offer assistance by being a friend, allowing patient to express their feelings and concerns; volunteers also provide assistance in self-care such as massage, haircut, etc. When requested, volunteers will provide spiritual support to patients and their family.
- Besides patient care, volunteers are needed for assisting in administrative and fund raising events.
- Volunteers should be in good physical and mental health, have not experienced a major personal bereavement within the past 12 months.
- Volunteers who wish to visit patients must undergo a basic hospice volunteer training course. KHC provides training to volunteers in both English and Mandarin.
Volunteers will be required to attend a basic hospice training course. Among the subjects taught are:
- Principle of hospice care
- Skilful means in hospice care
- Family as a unit of care
- Buddhist perspective of death and dying
You can volunteers by:
- being a hospice volunteer and visit patients
- being an administrative volunteer who help is paper work, mailing, etc
- being part of the fund raising committee
- Hospital visits
- Home visits
- Respite care i.e. giving the patient’s regular care-give some time off
Assisting KHC in community education and fund raising events
What do we look for in a prospective volunteer?
- Healthy motivation for wanting to help others
- Genuine care for people, an ability to show warmth
- Non-judgmental attitude of others
- Respect for others’ beliefs
- Strong sense of confidentiality
- Ease of attitude with sick people
- Good communication skills, yet knowing when to be silent
- Emotional maturity
- Willingness to learn and accept guidance
- Sense of humour
- Healthy attitude to own mortality
- High self esteem
- Dependability
- Sensitivity and awareness
- Willingness to give of oneself to others
- Ability to work well in a team
- Flexibility
