Hospice Link - Singapore ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Hospice
In this issue…
Link MAR 2014 Vol. 24, No. 1
Recognising
the importance
BLISS: An Angelic Musical Treat of Advance Care
Planning
27 April 2014 in aid of Dover Park
Hospice
Page 4
By Jaime Koh, Executive Corporate Communication
Singapore Cancer Society
There is likely to come a time, particularly towards the end of life, when many among us would be
unable to voice for ourselves what our healthcare choices are. We can lift the burden from our loved
ones of having to make the decisions for us then by spelling out our choices now.
Enter Advance Care Planning (ACP) and Preferred Plan of Care (PPC), which are relatively alien
A Personal Encounter: concepts in Singapore at the moment. However, they cannot be ignored because the importance of
A wonderful life
Page 11
assisting individuals in making informed decisions about their future medical care is growing as the
population ages.
ACP involves a series of voluntary discussions that help us better understand our state of health and
the medical care we wish to have, particularly in end-of-life situations. An ACP discussion usually
involves a conversation with a trained facilitator, and on occasion a healthcare professional. Our
preferences will be recorded. They will be implemented by loved ones and healthcare personnel if
such a time comes when we are unable to articulate our preferences for ourselves.
Continued on page 12...
Building Capability:
A "go to" workshop on grief and
bereavement care
Page 13
Singapore Palliative Care
Conference 2014
Page 18
of Events
28 Feb to 21 Apr 21 Mar 2 Apr to 16 Aug
9.00am – 5.00pm (Fri) HCA Hospice Care 25th 8.00am – 5.00pm (Alt Wed)
Anniversary Gala Dinner
Certificate in General Basic by HCA Hospice Care
8.00am – 1.00pm (Alt Sat)
Palliative Care Course Specialist Diploma in Palliative
Join us to celebrate 25 years of
for Allied Health Professionals excellence in home hospice care. Care Nursing
by Dover Park Hospice
For enquiries, please email communications@ – Post-Diploma Certificate in
Please contact DPH Training and
hcahospicecare.org.sg, or call 6891 9423. Essential Clinical Knowledge in
Development Department at dph_training@ Palliative Care (CKPC)
doverpark.org.sg for more information. by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, National Cancer
For registration, please contact AIC. Centre, and Dover Park Hospice
For Allied Health Professionals & Nurses
Please contact DPH Training and
Development Department at dph_training@
28 Feb to 11 Apr doverpark.org.sg for more information.
9.00am – 5.00pm (Fri)
22 Mar
Living Well, Leaving Well
Certificate in General Basic
Palliative Care Course
– Understanding Palliative Care
by HCA Hospice Care
2 Apr to 29 Nov
by Dover Park Hospice
Tan Tock Seng Hospital Theatrette, 8.00am – 5.00pm (Alt Wed)
Please contact DPH Training and Level 1
Development Department at dph_training@
8.00am – 1.00pm (Alt Sat)
doverpark.org.sg for more information. Learn more from our international
experts about the important decisions Specialist Diploma in Palliative
to be made, and how the family can Care Nursing
help their loved ones, at the end of life. – Post-Diploma Certificate in
Registration is free! Sign up at: Essential Clinical Knowledge in
1, 8, 15, 22 Mar http://www.hca.org.sg/events/symposium Palliative Care (CKPC)
by Ngee Ann Polytechnic, National Cancer
For enquiries, email communications@
12.00pm – 5.30pm (Sat) hcahospicecare.org.sg, or call 6251 2561.
Centre, and Dover Park Hospice
For Nurses
Caregivers’ Training Programme
(Palliative Care) Please contact DPH Training and
Development Department at dph_training@
by HCA Hospice Care
at Various HCA Centres
22 Mar & 24 May doverpark.org.sg for more information.
If you would like to learn palliative care 9.00am – 12noon (Orientation)
techniques, please contact 6251 2561, or 12.30pm – 5.30pm (Carer Theory)
visit www.hca.org.sg/services/palliative-
caregivers-programme to download an Volunteer Orientation and
7 & 8 Apr
application form. Training 9.00am – 5.00pm
by Assisi Hospice
To register and become an Assisi volunteer,
End-of-Life Nursing Education
pls email Chin Hui at yu_ch@
Consortium – Core Curriculum
15 Mar (Part 1) assisihospice.org.sg or call 6347 6453.
Workshops 1 & 2
by Dover Park Hospice
22 Mar (Part 2) For Allied Health Professionals & Rns
9.00am – 4.00pm 29 Mar & 24 May Please contact DPH Training and
Development Department at dph_training@
doverpark.org.sg for more information.
Basic Palliative Care Volunteer 9.00am – 5.30pm
Training in English
by Dover Park Hospice Clinical Practical Volunteer
Carers
at Dover Park Hospice
by Assisi Hospice
10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore 308436
To register and become an Assisi volunteer,
For more information, please contact
pls email Chin Hui at yu_ch@
volunteer@doverpark.org.sg
assisihospice.org.sg or call 6347 6453.
MEMBER ORGANISATIONS
Don’t miss these upcoming events!
Agape Methodist Hospice Assisi Hospice
9 Apr 27 Apr 70 Barker Road #05-03
Singapore 309936
Tel: 6478-4725
820 Thomson Road
Singapore 574623
Tel: 6347-6446
E-mail: admin@amh.mws.org.sg E-mail: assisi@assisihospice.org.sg
9.00am – 1.00pm 7.30 pm
End-of-Life Nursing Education BLISS: An Angelic Musical Treat
Consortium by Dover Park Hospice
Train The Trainers Workshop A fundraising event for Dover Park
by Dover Park Hospice Hospice. Tickets sell for $50, $80, $100, Bright Vision Hospital Changi General Hospital
For RNs only or $120 each. 5 Lor Napiri 2 Simei St 3
Singapore 547530 Singapore 529889
Please contact DPH Training and For more information on the concert or Tel: 6248-5755 Tel: 6788-8833
for the purchase of tickets, please contact E-mail: enquiries@bvh.org.sg
Development Department at dph_training@
doverpark.org.sg for more information. Christine Mak at 9820 1538 or Molly Loh at
9765 2900.
17 May Dover Park Hospice HCA Hospice Care
9.00am – 1.00pm 10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore 308436
12 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
Singapore 308437
Tel: 6500-7272 Tel: 6251-2561
Volunteer Orientation Course E-mail: info@doverpark.org.sg E-mail: info@hcahospicecare.org.sg
(New Volunteers)
by Dover Park Hospice
Dover Park Hospice
For more information, please contact
volunteer@doverpark.org.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital KK Women’s &
90 Yishun Central Children’s Hospital
Singapore 768828 Paediatric Palliative Care Service
Tel: 6555-8000 100 Bukit Timah Road
Email: enquiry@alexandrahealth.com.sg Singapore 229899
Tel: 6394-8008
15 to 24 Apr
7.00am – 3.00pm (every day)
Lien Centre for Palliative Care Metta Hospice Care
8 College Road, Level 5 32 Simei Street 1
Certificate in General Basic Singapore 169857 Metta Building
Palliative Care Course (Clinical) Tel: 6601-2018 Singapore 529950
E-mail: lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg Tel: 6580-4695
by Dover Park Hospice E-mail: hhospice@metta.org.sg
For RNs only
Please contact DPH Training and
Development Department at dph_training@
doverpark.org.sg for more information.
National Cancer Centre Singapore Cancer Society
15 Jun Singapore 15 Enggor Street
26 Apr
Dept. of Palliative Medicine #04-01 to 04 Realty Centre
11 Hospital Drive Singapore 079716
Singapore 169610 Tel: 6221-9578
10.00am – 4.30pm (Sun) Tel: 6436-8183 E-mail:
10.00am – 6.00pm enquiry@singaporecancersociety.org.sg
Assisi Hospice Charity Fun Day
BVH Heritage Carnival 2014
by Bright Vision Hospital by Assisi Hospice
Hougang Central Hub St Joseph’s Institute International
(next to Hougang Mall) 490 Thomson Road Singapore 298191
90 Hougang Ave 10 Singapore 538766
For purchase of Charity Fun Day tickets, St. Joseph’s Home & Hospice Tan Tock Seng Hospital
For enquiries, please call Youyi at 6248 5755 921 Jurong Road 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng
please contact Matthew at 6347 6442 or Singapore 649694 Singapore 308433
ext 5269 or email at ykok@bvh.org.sg matthew_cai@assisihospice.org.sg Tel: 6268-0482 Tel: 6357-2554
E-mail: stjoseph@stjh.org.sg
Hospice Link |3
Bliss: An Angelic Musical Treat
– Akan Datang!
By Daryl Tan, Coporate Communications Executive
Dover Park Hospice
“Music can change the world, because it can change people…”
W hen Bono of U2 fame uttered those words, he said them
with much belief in the power of music, a strong conviction
that music is much more than just a tool for entertainment – it is a
“Dover Park Hospice is really a clean and caring place, a pleasant
place of serenity and tranquility. During my sister’s stay at the
hospice, the staff were really good and helpful, making sure she
magical medium with immerse power to change the world. was well taken care of, right till the end. Which is why I feel that I
And it is this same belief that prompted a particular group of need to do my part in the concert to help raise funds for the
ladies to put their love for singing to a good cause. And they will hospice. In a way, it is paying back to the hospice for all that they
be doing so in a loud and big manner in a full-fledged concert have done for our family.”
titled BLISS: An Angelic Musical Treat, at the Kallang Theatre in April! Mdm Kit will be singing the version of Bali Ha’i performed by
Led by Ms Josephine Koh, Ms Christine Mak, and Mrs Molly Loh, Charlotte Church. The beautiful yet technically challenging song is
this concert will be the third such event that they’re putting originally from the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical,
together but the first for a charitable cause: to raise much needed South Pacific. ❤
funds for Dover Park Hospice.
With Mrs Goh Chok Tong to grace the event as the Guest-of- BLISS: An Angelic Musical Treat starts at 7.30 pm on
Honour, the evening promises sheer magnetism and razzle dazzle 27 April. Tickets sell for $50, $80, $100, or $120 each.
to entertain and enrapture the audience with beautiful renditions For more information on the concert or for the purchase of
of classics such as No Matter What by Boyzone and The Prayer by tickets, please contact Christine Mak at 9820 1538 or
Celine Dion. Molly Loh at 9765 2900.
For one particular lady who will be performing in the concert, this
event for a worthy cause means something even more special.
Wishing only to be known as Mdm Kit, she experienced the
warmth and compassion of hospice care when her sister, in the
final journey of her life, was warded at Dover Park Hospice.
About Dover Park Hospice
Dover Park Hospice provides in-
residence hospice care as well as
24-hour home care support, to
bring comfort, symptom relief and
palliative care to patients with
advanced illness regardless of age,
race or religion, as well as support for
grieving families.
The charming performers of the Angelic Voices group
4 | Hospice Link
Living Well, Leaving Well - 22 March 2014 at Tan Tock Seng Hospital Theatrette
Understanding Palliative Care
By Tan Ee Hiang, Community Relations Executive
HCA Hospice Care Living Well, Leaving Well will be held on
22 Mar 2014, at 2-4pm at Tan Tock Seng
Hospital.
H CA Hospice Care and Tan Tock Seng Hospital are jointly organising a public symposium
on the theme, Living Well, Leaving Well. Two esteemed overseas experts will speak on
the different aspects of palliative care.
Visit www.hca.org.sg/events/symposium
to register. Call 6251 2561 for any
enquiries.
Dr Suresh Reddy Dr Jan Aldridge
Topic: Key Decisions in Palliative Care Topic: The Family in Palliative Care
Dr Reddy is a Professor and Section Chief at the Dr Aldridge is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist
Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation in Paediatric Palliative Care at Martin House
Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Children’s Hospice in the United Kingdom. She is
Cancer Centre also an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the
University of Leeds’ School of Medicine.
You started work in medicine in anaesthesiology. Why did You’ve concentrated on clinical psychology with children for
you choose to make the move into the field of palliative care? almost your entire career. Why did you decide to move into
After I completed my training in anaesthesiology, I wanted to pursue this particular field of psychology – the opportunity to work
further sub-specialty training in pain management offered to with children?
anaesthesiologists. I was trained in all kinds of pain management, It is not always easy for children in our societies to realise their
but treatment of cancer pain really sparked my interest and amazing potential. I wanted to be part of helping children to
motivated me due to its rather variable outcomes and challenges. achieve that.whatever form it might take.
Palliative care was also a natural transition for me after I met my
mentor, Dr Eduardo Bruera, who is a leader in the field of What are some of the misconceptions about paediatric
palliative care. palliative care you have encountered?
A common misconception is about how overwhelmingly sad the
What are some of the misconceptions about palliative care work must be. It is of course very sad and painful at times, but it is
that you have encountered? also a real privilege to be alongside people at this important time, to
• Palliative care is a death service share their journey and to learn from them. I am full of admiration
• It leads to depression and anxiety for how children manage all the many challenges that are thrown
• It is a TLC (Tender Love and CARE) service at them, and to see the amount of life living that they pack into
• One does not need specialist training to provide it their days!
• It should be reserved for the time of death
What do you feel is the main difference between adult and
Are there any cultural differences in the way people around paediatric palliative care?
the world approach palliative care? The focus of adult palliative care is often about providing the best
Absolutely. Most cultures do not want disclosure of cancer diagnosis possible care at the end of life. Paediatric palliative care is very much
to be made to the patient, while many cultures associate palliative about helping children and their families grow and develop and live
care with end-of-life care. Decision making is also unique to as fully and actively as possible throughout their life, although it
different cultures – from complete autonomy, to decision making by might be a shortened life.
the eldest in the family.
This is a challenge at times, as some parents understandably want
to wrap their children in cotton wool and protect them from any
Have there been any patients or incidents that stand out in
further trials and tribulations, whereas the children themselves value
your memory?
making the most of their experience of life.
So many it’s tough to pick one. Taking care of colleagues who
trained me, but unfortunately died under my care, is probably the
What sort of difference is there in the role the family plays in
toughest. These cases are complex to manage, since there are so
adult and paediatric palliative care?
many issues, including the emotional aspects of taking care of a
Families are significant to most of us and at difficult times even
colleague. One starts to think about one’s own mortality and who I
more so. However, in paediatric palliative care, the family is
would want to have take care of me when I am dying.
absolutely central. Many children worry more about their parents
than about themselves, and are only able to relax a bit when they
Could you give us an example of the sort of decisions
see we are looking after their family too. This means that the health
patients commonly need to make?
professionals may need to think about the whole family system and
The common ones those regarding the treatment aspects, when to
their significant friends too.
wean and/or stop treatment, legalities surrounding withdrawal and
withholding care, resuscitation, medical proxy, and funeral
arrangements.
Hospice Link |5
‘Live to Give’ – Showing that We
By Community Engagement Team, The percussion piece set the stage for the next band performance.
Bright Vision Hospital
The excitement intensified when Karlos, an all-female indie band
sang ‘I Say A Little Prayer’ by Aretha Franklin. They dazzled the
B right Vision Hospital (BVH) ushered in a brand new year with
a big bang by staging the ‘Live to Give’ Charity Concert at
IMM Building on 11 January 2014. In the 300-strong audience
crowd with their rock-chick style. When Elaine Lam, a local singer
and songwriter, took over the stage, her deep, soulful voice
captivated the audience. Elaine’s performance was followed by
at the show were BVH patients, caregivers and volunteers who folk singer-cum-songwriter, Dawn Fung, whose folksy tunes
came all the way from Hougang, where the hospital is located. enraptured them into her world of storytelling. Her unique voice
The concert was held to show appreciation for caregivers who had and homey style connected her with the audience right away.
dedicated their time and effort, to care for their loved ones. It also Other highlights of the concert were group performances by
served as a platform for young local indie musicians to showcase Daniel and the Music Box, Johnny EyeGlass and Seyra. Songs by
their talents and at the same time contribute to the needy Daniel and the Music Box were light-hearted and playful. The
community. evergreen ‘Rose, Rose I Love You’ was a huge hit with senior
A drizzle before the evening show helped to cool down the venue. citizens in the audience. Johnny Eyeglass wowed the floor with
The setting at Garden Plaza was perfect for enjoying a night of their own brand of indie rock and pop music while the Malay
varied musical entertainment. By 7.00pm, eager members of the audience members were enthralled by Seyra’s self-composed
audience were seated and waiting excitedly for the programme to Malay songs. Supporters of each group sang and clapped along
start. Miss Alia and Mr Karweng Jiarong, the two emcees for the with the performers.
night, warmly welcomed the guests. Their enthusiasm fuelled the Four BVH nurses also performed an item for everyone. They were
crowd’s excitement. Ms Ramilo Annelyn Dimaano, Ms Misamis Auditte Villarin, Ms
A couple of items were lined up in a pre-concert warm-up Tolosa Jemabelle Armario and Mr Tanda Jan Mark. Tolosa and
programme. A short BVH video was aired followed by an award- Tanda performed a contemporary dance while Annelyn and
winning 3D animated film titled ‘Swing’ by Mr Kuo Yen-Ting. The Auditte sang the Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston big ballad
four-minute film showed how the behaviour and attitudes of ‘When You Believe’.
people could influence the perspectives of those undergoing The concert ended on a high note when performers were invited
end-of-life journeys. Screening this video at the start of the onto the stage for a finale. Joined by Mr Chua Puay Hian, BVH
concert emphasised the importance of caregivers. Chief Executive Officer, Ms Poh Bee Kuan, Director, Prof Lee Kheng
The Garden Plaza pulsated with life when two young drummers Hock, Medical Director and Mdm Salimah Bte Ayoob, Nursing
pounded on their drums in stylised rhythms. At the end of their Director, the ensemble presented the song ‘What are Words’ by
performance, the drummers presented hand-made flowers to all Chris Medina. The lyrics of the song (‘Anywhere you are, I am
BVH patients. near, Anywhere you go, I’ll be there, Anytime you whisper my
6 | Hospice Link Last shot of the night
– all artistes up on stage.
Care
name, You’ll see ...) were especially meaningful. Some of the
artistes not only performed at the concert, but also donated items
to raise funds from the audience. Through ‘Live to Give’, BVH
raised more than $60,000 for its needy patients. This event also
saw strong support from several partners and sponsors. They are:
• Live House Pte Ltd
• NTUC Fairprice Foundation
• Tote Board & Turf Club Singapore
• IMM
• Lee Foundation
• Your Very Treatz
• Arctic Fox Studios Asia
Last but not least, BVH would like to extend its appreciation and
heartfelt thanks to the volunteers who contributed to the event.
They include staff from Turner and Townsend, BVH nurses and
many individuals who stepped forward to help in logistics, event
coordination and photography.
Music is a well-known and much loved form of therapy. It is
known to relieve individuals from emotional and physical stress,
calming them and lifting their spirits. It is heartening to know that
the guests, especially the BVH patients who attended the concert,
enjoyed the evening of musical entertainment. ❤
About Bright Vision Hospital
Bright Vision Hospital (BVH) is a 318 bed
community hospital offering intermediate
and long-term care services. BVH provides
inpatient services for rehabilitation, palliative,
sub-acute and chronic sick patients.
It is a fully integrated hospital that provides
a seamless continuum of holistic and quality
healthcare, especially to the needy, the sick,
and the elderly.
(From top)
Ms Poh Bee Kuan, Director of BVH, warmly greets
one of the patients attending the concert.
Elaine Lam captivated her audience with her
jazzy performance.
Seyra enchanted the audience with their self-composed
Malay songs.
‘Rose, Rose I Love You’ by the endearing 3-piece band
Daniel and the Music Box.
You can when you believe – BVH’s very own artistes from
the Nursing team.
Let’s smile for the camera! Hospice Link |7
– Volunteers at the Live to Give Concert.
Celebrating the new Year
of the Horse
By Community Engagement Team, Bright Vision Hospital | Desiree Lim, Assistant Manager,
Community Engagement, Assisi Hospice
Tan Ee Hiang, Community Relations Executive, HCA Hospice Care | Daryl Chua, Coporate
Communications Executive, Dover Park Hospice
S taff and volunteers at several hospices celebrated the arrival of the Year of the Horse with their patients with festive tunes, lion
dances, mandarin oranges, festive yummies and other activities. Here’s a round-up of the Chinese New Year revelry:
Chinese calligraphy and orchestral music
20 January & 4 February 2014 | Bright Vision Hospital
Guiding a patient, calligrapher-cum-teacher Mr Tan Chye Joyful Chinese New Year
Thiam, was the main coordinator of BVH’s annual ‘Healing melodies, performed by a mini
HeARTS’ event – Chinese Calligraphy Exhibition, which is orchestra led by two regular befrienders, Desmond Lim and
co-organised by Mongkok District Cultural, Recreational and Jeremy Lee. – 4 February
Sports Association from Hong Kong. – 20 January
Lip-smacking yummies, lion dances and mandarin oranges
6 & 7 February 2014 | Assisi Hospice
CNY goodies, to be presented to patients, Children from the kindergarten of the Church of the Holy
were donated by corporate sponsor, The Trinity performed a lion dance …and went from ward to ward
Traveller DMC Pte Ltd. – 6 February distributing mandarin oranges and goodie bags. – 7 February
Philanthropist Mdm Khoo
Bee See sent mandarin
oranges and red packets for
all Assisi Hospice patients
- 28 January
8 | Hospice Link
Lunchtime concert, celebrities, and lo hei!
28 January & 8 February 2014 | HCA Hospice Care
Deutsche Bank invited HCA’s day hospice patients to its Several lucky patients welcomed the Year
Lunchtime Concert Series, featuring the Singapore Chinese of the Horse at Mediacorp whose artistes
Orchestra. Acting Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, entertained them with lively song and
Lawrence Wong, was there to personally present our patients dance numbers. They tossed yusheng for
with oranges. – 28 January good fortune. Artistes Chen Han Wei,
Zhu Hou Ren,
Priscilla Chan
and Zheng Ge
Ping and his
son made the
event even more
special for our
patients.
- 8 February
Courtesy of
Mediacorp Pte Ltd
Festive decor and prancing lions
29 January & 9 February 2014 | Dover Park Hospice
Lo hei with patients and Annual DPH CNY celebrations,
caregivers. – 29 January with a special performance by
Yew Tee CC Chinese Orchestra.
– 9 February
Hospice Link |9
Individually, We are One Drop,
Together, We are an Ocean
By Nur Hidayah, Nanyang Polytechnic
Volunteer of Metta Hospice Care
I nspired by our community studies, a group of us – students of Nanyang
Polytechnic – decided to be volunteers with Metta Hospice Care during
our December mid-semester break. Our aim was to lend a helping hand
in whatever way we could. With the New Year around the corner, it was
also a meaningful time to exchange goodwill with everyone.
We chose Metta Hospice Care for our voluntary services because we felt
that those involved in community care for the elderly and the disabled are
often shorthanded.
Along with six other classmates, I called on Uncle Ronnie, aged 55, at his
home on 23 December 2013. We saw before us a former breadwinner
who could not tend to the upkeep his home after he was paralysed.
Moved by Uncle Ronnie’s circumstances, we made it our task for the day to
clean his three-room flat. We had come ready and fully equipped for our
mission with brooms, mops, rags and cleaning agents – basically anything
one would need for cleaning. Accompanied by two Metta staff members,
Staff Nurse Sa’adiah and Medical Care Officer Syameen, we rolled up our
sleeves and divided the task among ourselves.
Squirt, squirt...scrub, scrub...swish, swish – on our hands and knees, we
scoured and washed every square centimetre of Uncle Ronnie’s living
room, kitchen and two toilets, not neglecting all the corners and
hard-to-get-at places. With great teamwork, we manage to cover quite
a lot. His wife, Mrs Ng, was very impressed and grateful.
At the end of six gruelling but satisfying hours, with our muscles
protesting at all the scrubbing that had been done, we bade farewell
to Uncle Ronnie and Mrs Ng. Although he was unable to express his
thanks verbally, we distinctly felt his gratitude and warmth through
his body language.
After spending the day with Uncle Ronnie, my teammates and I realise how
lucky we are to be blessed with good health and to have loved ones, who
care for our happiness, in much the same way that Uncle Ronnie had in his
wife. I thank my teammates for their selflessness. Together, we had
accomplished much.
This article is dedicated to Ronnie Ng, a loving husband to his wife,
wonderful father to his sons and a great friend. He passed away peacefully
on 15 January 2014. ❤
About Metta Hospice Care
Set up in June 2000, we are part of
the Metta Welfare Association. We
offer free home hospice care to the
terminally ill of all races and religion.
An inter-disciplinary team of doctors,
nurses, spiritual advisors and a social
worker-cum-counsellor helps our
patients live out the last phase of
their lives with dignity till the end.
10 | Hospice LinkRoseanne:
It’s A Wonderful Life
By Daryl Tan, Corporate Communications Executive After this first encounter, I returned to see her several times.
Dover Park Hospice
In our next few meetings, she would excitedly take out old photos
and explain to me where she was and what she was doing at the
H uman beings are not born alone, and more often than not,
we live our lives not for ourselves but for those whom we
love. We selflessly do things for our parents and family, provide for
moment the photographs were snapped. I probably had taken a
tour around the world just by looking through her photo albums –
Israel, South Korea, Malaysia, China, Turkey… and a lot more
our children without complaining, and love them with all our
other places I didn’t even know about!
heart.
From all her stories, I realised how much she had devoted her life
And like Mother Theresa once said: “A life lived not for others is
to the service of others, and that she could always be found
not a life.”
volunteering in one place or another. From homes for the aged to
Then there are those who dedicate their entire lives not only to hospices, in the jungle or out in the backwaters, Roseanne took
family bound by blood but also to family of choice. care of and nurtured so many lives over the years.
Mdm Roseanne is one of this rare breed. As the weeks went by, Roseanne became noticeably weaker, her
voice became gradually softer, and most of the time she would be
How I got to meet Roseanne was something that I hadn’t been
asleep. However, whenever I caught her awake, she would
expecting, but I am thankful that it happened.
unfailingly ask for her tablet PC to be taken out, just so that she
One day at the office, two different colleagues approached me at could show me more photos.
different times telling me that I just had to meet this patient at
She even showed me a card handwritten by the children she had
Level Two, where the wards are, because she had such a
cared for in Sabah. The kids, in their message on the card,
wonderful life story to tell and an amazing personality that
adorably apologised for being naughty and sincerely thanked her
brightened up any room she was in.
for taking care of them. Such beautiful words only bear testimony
So I thought to myself: “Ok… must be really something if two to Roseanne’s wondrous life.
different people are telling me that. I’vet got to meet this person!”
One day, she said this to me: “I was so happy to come into the
I wasn’t disappointed. Hospice (Dover Park Hospice) because I knew that I would be well
taken care of here… and there are so many people here to talk to.”
When I first met Roseanne, she warmly invited me to take a seat
beside her bed after I had introduced myself. And almost like So I replied: “You have taken care of so many people all your life;
talking to a friend whom she had not met in years, she started now you can allow others to take care of you!”
gushing out some of her colourful life experiences uninhibitedly,
And in a voice so soft it was almost inaudible, she said: “You can
breaking down all barriers between us and making it seem like this
help me write my story, but don’t use the photo taken in the
was not the first time we were meeting.
hospice. Not nice... Use my old photos…”
For the next hour or so, I was captivated by stories of Roseanne
With eyes closed and a faint smile, she fell back to sleep.
going into the dense jungles of Sabah to cook for Catholic nuns,
her building a huge water tank, using fish blood to fertilise the Through my encounters with Roseanne, I know I have met someone
earth, taking care of unmarried women in Kota Kinabalu, remarkable – someone who lived her life not for herself, but for the
celebrating birthdays with hospice patients, cooking traditional sake and well-being of others. Even though this article does not
Peranakan food for others, and much much more… even begin to do any justice to what Roseanne had actually
accomplished and experienced in her life, I’m glad that I could pen
down my experience of meeting with her.
The honour and privilege of knowing her are entirely mine. ❤
Roseanne, off the beaten track in Sabah,
tending to a vegetable plot
Roseanne cutting the hair of a child she took
care of in Sabah Hospice Link | 11Recognising
the importance
of Advance Care
Planning
...continued from page 1
PPC, which is part of ACP, is the detailed documentation of our
wishes of how we’d like to be cared for when we are seriously ill.
The details could include our preferred place of care (eg at home, Role-playing helps participants practise managing conversations in Advance
in a nursing home or hospice), who to be involved in the care, Care Planning.
resuscitation decisions and other medical options. In the PPC, we
specify anything that is important to us, including the preferred Having been awarded Certificates of Achievement upon fulfilling
place of demise and religious rites to be carried out. the requirements of the ACP facilitation course, the participants
now qualify as ACP facilitators and are better equipped to
Having ACP and PPC conversations can be difficult, particularly in understand their patients’ goals and contribute to the care
a society where topics surrounding death can be sensitive. outcomes that their patients desire most.
Nevertheless, with trained professionals to facilitate and encourage
such communication, the task need not be awkward. Patients and Among the successful trainees was Mr Joel Tham, Senior
their loved ones can share fully what it is they hope to have, Occupational Therapist, Hospice Care Services, SCS, who is
without holding back and without harbouring a lingering sense of convinced that ACP is necessary for everyone. “The course has
not having their wishes fulfilled. certainly helped me to understand the importance of ACP to our
patients. ACP is about living and not dying! It will help patients
To this end, Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) – which constantly assert their beliefs and wishes of how they would like best to be
seeks to build competencies among its staff to deliver quality cared for. This is a new enablement tool that I will extend to my
holistic care for patients and beneficiaries – recently sent its patients.”
Hospice Care Team as well as welfare officers for training to be
certified as ACP facilitators. Our staff members, 10 in total, would Mr Albert Ching, SCS Chief Executive Officer, encourages the
have completed ACP-PPC certification by February this year. participants to continue developing their professional skills. He
said: “We are going to see greater integration in the services that
The ACP course, held on 6 December 2013, was conducted by SCS provides. We want to not only serve more people but also to
SCS locum doctor, Dr Siew Chee Weng, who is also a certified serve them better. Training and development is definitely a key
ACP facilitator and trainer. The programme was organised by the area we are looking into. This is only the start. There are a lot of
Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and benefitted 14 participants specialised courses, such as palliative specialist courses, that I
from SCS and AIC, comprising doctors, nurses, counsellors, encourage everyone to consider taking up as part of their
occupational therapists and social workers. personal development to contribute to the organisation and
The course is adapted from Respecting Choices®, an internationally the community.” ❤
recognised, evidence-based advance care planning programme
owned and operated by the not-for-profit Gundersen Lutheran
Medical Foundation in the US.
g A he ad
n
About Singapore Cancer Society
The Singapore Cancer Society, founded in
P la n n i
1964, is a voluntary welfare organisation
nt
which is endorsed by the Ministry of Health.
e d i c a l t re a t m e
It helps needy cancer patients through cancer M
treatment subsidies, welfare aid, hospice
directive
nt
n age m e
home care, free transportation to/from
cancer treatment, rehabilitative support, c i a l m a
Fi n a n
cancer screening, cancer research and public
d e c i s i o n maker
education. It also has IPC (Institute of Public te
Character) status as a charity since 1995. Su b s t i t u
W i ll
y
o w e r o f a t to r n e
P
12 | Hospice Link a l a r ra n ge me nt s
Fu n e rBuilding Capacity and
Capability for our Patients
By Cheryl Goh, Manager, Communications & Fundraising
Methodist Welfare Services, Agape Methodist Hospice
R esponding proactively to the Government’s affirmation
last October of its commitment to work with palliative
care providers to build their capabilities, Agape Methodist
Hospice despatched five staff members to a highly rated “go
to” workshop on the subject “Grief and Bereavement Care” at
Hospis Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur on 14 and 15 December.
At the workshop, AMH staff received training conducted by two
experts Professor Amy Chow from Hong Kong and Dr Gilbert Fan
from Singapore. Prof Chow is with the Department of Social Work
and Social Administration at the University of Hong Kong, while Dr
Fan is the Deputy Chair for Patient Support and Head of the
Department of Psychosocial Oncology, National Cancer Centre
Singapore. Prof Chow’s extensive experience in palliative care, grief
and bereavement together with Dr Fan’s expertise in experiential
counselling and grief work made the workshop a “must attend”
event for palliative care personnel.
The workshop, which attracted maximum attendance with
participants hailing from around Asia, focussed on anticipatory
grief, which is the grief reaction felt by the patient and his family
members as they face the eventual death of the former.
The AMH trainees came to understand that grieving is a natural
process, and that it takes place not only after a patient dies but
also in the advent of death. They were taught that it is important comfortable too in grieving with them. They can also more
not to pathologise patients, given that their seemingly abnormal capably assess whether the grieving has turned from what is a
behaviour – at a time when they are dying – can be a way for normal expression of loss into depression. They are more able too
them to act out their pain. The team observed a demonstration of at counselling patients. They have also learnt to face their own
several therapeutic approaches such as Two-Chair Counselling anxieties about death so that these do not get in the way when
Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy and ADAPTS Therapy, etc. They also they relate to their patients.
went through very realistic, experiential learning in these
Aside from sending staff to attend workshops to enhance their
techniques, practising the therapies on themselves before they
capabilities, AMH hopes to expand its care team by two more
applied the techniques to patients.
nurses and a doctor. The hospice plans to enlarge the working
Moira Tan, Nurse Manager of AMH, felt that the workshop had space to accommodate the staff additions. These measures will
increased her knowledge of counselling and broadened her boost AMH’s capacity. At present, the hospice has a complement
appreciation of the subject. She had previously been apprehensive of one resident doctor, three nurses and one medical social worker
about expressing her own sadness when she faced head-on the and one administrator. The team attends to around 200 patients
overflowing grief of bereaved family members. She wasn’t sure annually. ❤
whether it was alright to cry with them. This workshop helped her
realise that “if I cried with them, they will know that actually
someone does feel for them”.
Our medical social worker, Edlin Hu, agreed that the workshop About Agape Methodist Hospice
had helped her to resolve concerns about whether it is proper to (AMH Homecare)
shed tears with the family. Another workshop trainee, Staff Nurse
Amanda Ong, said that the training had “opened up a whole new Agape Methodist Hospice, managed by
world of understanding grief”. For the team as a whole, the the Methodist Welfare Services, provides
training has provided a clear framework for grief assessment palliative home care service for patients
and their families.
and intervention.
The team feels that they are now better able to understand the
grieving process of patients and their caregivers, and are
Hospice Link | 13Family photo shoots – in photos
By Tan Ee Hiang, Community Relations Executive
HCA Hospice Care
About Star PALS 1
I n 2008, celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart
had a brilliant idea – for communities of
photographers around the world to band together
Star PALS, an initiative of HCA Hospice
Care, is a paediatrics palliative care service
that provides holistic home care for
to give back to society.
young patients aged 19 years and below,
That gem of an idea led to the setting up of and extends support to their families.
Help-Portrait, and last December, its Singapore Multidisciplinary care is provided by doctors,
chapter generously provided – totally pro-bono – nurses, medical social workers, counsellors
20 of our Star PALS children and their families the and allied health specialists like art therapists.
Star PALS also actively engages the help of
chance to have professional-quality family
trained respite caregivers, known as Medi-
portraits taken. ❤
Minders. Find out more about our paediatric
palliative care services on www.starpals.sg.
3 4
Next, professional studio photographers touched up the photos to perfection.
6 7
All of this would not
have been possible
Tadaaaa – the unexpected, sometimes hilarious but always pleasing outcome of family portraits – without our incredible
something for the families to cherish for posterity. volunteers and
sponsors!
14 | Hospice Link2
Then came the make-up
and hairstyling by volunteer
professional make-up
The first batch of Star PALS families arriving bright and artists, and finally, the
early on the morning of 7 December 2013 at Jurong photo-taking itself.
Bird Park, greeted by our volunteers.
5
Meanwhile Senior
Minister of State for
Health, Amy Khor,
graciously dropped in
for lunch. She mingled
happily with the
participants, especially
the children.
Our wonderful emcees, and performances by Lin Si Tong, Myla
and Friends, the Caring Clowns, and Edwin the Magician, kept
Tha nk us entertained throughout the event.
yo u !
Venue
Sponsor Official Sponsors
w a h! h!
M a
MwA View Out in the Field
By Sumytra Menon The HCA nurses typically complete five or six visits per day. Each
Lien Centre for Palliative Care
nurse carries a backpack with a laptop, and pulls along an airplane
cabin-sized wheeled suitcase containing medication, a
T he Lien Centre for Palliative Care (LCPC) team was very
privileged to spend an entire day on retreat shadowing
healthcare personnel from HCA Hospice Care and Tsao
stethoscope, and other medical equipment and accessories. The
laptop is used to update patients’ records, a task usually done
during or just after a call on a patient.
Foundation’s Hua Mei Mobile Clinic on their home visits to
patients. As part of LCPC’s continuing efforts to reach out and Our staff members observed the work done and the interaction
better understand the state of palliative care in Singapore, the goal between the healthcare personnel and the patients during the
of this retreat was to see first-hand the challenges on the ground calls at the patients’ homes. The doctors and nurses performed
that patients, families and healthcare workers face. standard medical checks, replaced dressings where needed,
communicated with the relevant caregivers regarding care issues
Five LCPC staff members spent the day with Hua Mei Mobile Clinic and medication, and chatted with each patient to get an update
and another five did the same with HCA Hospice Care. on changes in symptoms, treatment concerns, the patient’s state
The staff assigned to the Hua Mei Mobile Clinic first convened at of mind, and pressing social concerns, if any.
the Tsao Foundation offices, where they were briefed on the The dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by all the
workings and structure of the Foundation. Later, either in pairs or Hua Mei Mobile Clinic and HCA Hospice Care staff, who often go
singly, they accompanied a doctor on the latter’s daily visit to the that extra mile for the patients and their families, was very
home of a palliative care patient. On such calls, each doctor carries impressive and touching. This retreat has given LCPC staff a better
a backpack with medical supplies, including supplemental understanding of the people we are trying to help, and the
medication, a stethoscope, and first-aid items. community we serve.
LCPC staff with the HCA Hospice team were assigned to the Thank you, Hua Mei Mobile Clinic and HCA Hospice Care, for
hospice’s different satellite centres around the island. Each staff hosting our team and for such a memorable experience! ❤
member shadowed a nurse carrying out patient visits in the
assigned catchment area.
About the Lien Centre
for Palliative Care
The LCPC is a research and educational
centre established in 2008 at the Duke-
NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore,
in collaboration with the Lien Foundation.
Our stakeholders are the National Cancer
Centre and Singapore Health Services.
HCA Hospice team and LCPC staff
setting off for home visits
Hospice Link | 16Slow-roasted prunes with
mint yoghurt cream By Sylvia Tan
Volunteer Contributor
H
EALTHY eaters can eat dessert, yes! But healthy eaters never eat pastry, or at least do
it only occasionally. Both short crust and puff
Just make sure that it is fruit, jelly or sorbet,
pastry have loads of butter.
all of which have hardly any fat, and do control
any added sweetness. But what if I roasted a pile of fresh prunes and
served them with a dollop of (low-fat, of course)
You can use a plethora of natural sweeteners
yoghurt, sweetened with a natural sugar such as
such as barley or rice malt syrup, made from
barley malt syrup? By the way, you can buy this
those grains rather than sugar cane. They deliver
from a health food store.
subtle sweetness and have a lower glycaemic
index than white sugar, which everyone should You can even use a dollop of pureed silken tofu
strive for. instead of the yoghurt. Just puree the tofu, allow
to drain, then sweeten, again with something
Generally, one of the principles underlying
like barley malt sugar.
healthy eating is to eat foods that are as natural
as possible. In other words, they have gone Prunes or sugar plums make a great addition to
through minimal processing before they reach your diet. As with other deeply coloured fruit and
the table. vegetables, the colour hints at the rich
Sylvia Tan is a cookbook author antioxidants within which fight against free
Today’s recipe is inspired by a friend’s tale of how
who writes a fortnightly healthy radicals in the body that cause cancers. The fruit
she had visited France and saw her hostess
cooking column in The Straits itself contains lots of soluble fibre, which helps
effortlessly turning out a dessert from fresh fruit.
Times, Mind Your Body supplement normalise blood sugar levels.
on Thursdays. Her healthy recipes Prunes, also known as sugar plums, were in
Yes, there is sugar, but mostly from the fruit
are also published in her books, season. And her hostess had placed the prunes,
itself. Like I said, no one need forgo dessert, not
“Taste” and “Eat to Live”, available halved and stoned, on a sheet of pastry and
even careful eaters! ❤
in the bookshops. You can send a roasted them in a slow oven till the fruit became
message to Sylvia on her Facebook golden and caramelised.
page www.facebook.com/
SylviaTanMadAboutFood.
Slow-roasted prunes Method:
with mint yoghurt • Heat oven 150C.
“cream”(For 4) • Cut prunes in half and remove the pits.
Spray canola oil over a shallow baking tray
8 fresh prunes or sugar plums and place prunes, cut side up on the tray.
Canola oil spray
1/4 cup Armagnac or brandy, • Roast in oven for 30 minutes or more till
optional (Armagnac is a specialty prunes are golden and soft.
brandy from the region of the • Remove fruit, leaving the juices behind.
same name in France) Pour Armagnac into the oven tray and stir
1 small tub plain low-fat yoghurt, into the fruit juices to obtain a sauce. Add
optional, or use half a slab of a little water if you like more sauce.
silken tofu
1 tbsp barley malt syrup or to taste • To make the yoghurt cream, stir in barley
(available from health food stores) malt syrup into the tub of yoghurt and
5 or 6 mint leaves, chopped add the shredded mint. Leave for a while
1 small bar peanut brittle, for the flavours to develop.
chopped, available from Chinese • Serve roasted fruit topped with chopped
shops peanut brittle with a dollop of sweetened
yoghurt on the side and enjoy every bit of
this relatively guiltless dessert!
Hospice Link | 17About Assisi Hospice
Assisi Hospice, established in 1969 as
Unsung Hero of
Assisi Home for the poor and sick, was
reconstituted in 2007 to focus on caring
for those with life-threatening diseases. It
is a Catholic mission hospice that accepts
Assisi Hospice
people who need its services from all
faiths, traditions and walks of life. Assisi
Hospice is also the only palliative care
provider in Singapore to provide in-patient
care, home care and adult day care.
By Desiree Lim, Assistant Manager, Community Engagement
Assisi Hospice
I nternational Volunteer Day (IVD) 2013 marked the fourth year
of celebrating our volunteer community in Singapore. The
campaign last year focused on the theme “My Volunteer Hero”,
Associate Professor Premarani Kannusamy, CEO of Assisi Hospice,
said: “Angela is the gem of Assisi. She epitomises what is needed in
a volunteer – she takes nothing from the patients yet gives
thus stories were collected from some 1,000 beneficiaries who everything of herself to them.”
thanked their volunteers for helping those in need.
IVD, which falls on 5 December each year, is an international
One such heart-warming story is that of Angela Kwek, a volunteer observance designated by the United Nations since 1985. ❤
with Assisi Hospice for more than 10 years. As cited by Lawrence
Wong, Acting Minister for Community, Culture and Youth, Angela
“… buys food for patients despite not earning an income, helps
transport patients to the day care, and cleans them up when the
nurses are busy. She is there six days a week – no leave, no MC.
When asked about what drives her to constantly volunteer her
services, she simply said, ‘The organisation needs volunteers.’”
Angela garnered six nominations and stories from staff and
volunteers of Assisi Hospice for her dedication and generosity.
These helped her clinch the Unsung Hero Award at IVD 2013.
d from M r Wong
e Un sung Hero Awar
Angela rec eiv ing th
Editorial Committee
Mary Kwang Editor
Hospice
John Koh
Eileen Lim
Cheryl Goh
Desiree Lim
Contributing Editor
Contributing Editor
Agape Methodist Hospice
Assisi Hospice
Living before Leaving
Link
Muhammad Azhar Bright Vision Hospital An Umbrella Body Representing All Organisations MICA (P) 199/03/2013
That Actively Provide Hospice & Palliative Care in Singapore
Lee Tien Sin Dover Park Hospice The Newsletter of the
Howard Wong HCA Hospice Care Singapore Hospice Council
Ethel Koh Khoo Teck Puat Hospital
SHC Secretariat Printed by A&D Printhub Pte Ltd
Chan Yeow Seng Lien Centre for Palliative Care
133 New Bridge Road, #04-06
Syameen Koh Metta Hospice Care Produced by SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd
Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413
Jaime Koh Singapore Cancer Society Tel: +65 6538 2231 Contents are not to be quoted or
Appolina de Silva St Joseph’s Home & Hospice www.singaporehospice.org.sg reproduced without the permission of the
Vanessa Yung Singapore Hospice Council Email: secretariat@singaporehospice.org.sg Singapore Hospice Council.
Early Bird Registration Deadline : 15th March 2014, SaturdayYou can also read
