As a Hospice we recognise that it is often hard for a healthy person to see the needs beyond the physical/medical needs of a patient. Patients have dreams and aspirations that they begin to realise will never manifest due to their declining health. We don’t want to minimise the importance of the psycho-social needs of our patients which has prompted us to start this project, Hearts for Hospice!
Our recently appointed P.R.O and Marketer, Ashleigh Smith recently started Hearts for Hospice to uplift the lives and spirits of our patients and their families. Knysna-Sedgefield Hospice is proud to announce that Hearts for Hospice is off the ground and flying now!
How this project works; Our patients are discussed in our weekly interdisciplinary team meeting here at B.O.N.D House which includes our medical staff, social workers, volunteer pastor and a volunteer counsellor. Patients or families most in need of upliftment are identified and the greatest needs or wishes are brought to Ashleigh to make them happen.
We launched this project with a visit to the bed side of a palliative care, bedridden patient by her favorite celebrity Kahn Morbee from The Parlotones (Read more about this story below). And then on Monday 18th July 2016 we took 33 vulnerable children who belong to our support groups to Knysna Spur for complimentary burgers, chips, cold drinks and ice creams and a wander around the Knysna Waterfront. Next on our wish list is a day outing for the mother and siblings of one of our housebounds paediatric patients who requires 24/7 intensive caregiving. The goal is to give them a break, an opportunity to bond outside of the intense home environment and to experience a day that they would never have the opportunity to experience, creating lasting memories for all 3 of them!
All of our projects are attainable through the good will of the public, both locally and beyond. If you would like to donate to this beautiful initiative, you will find our banking details at the bottom of the newsletter. Please specify that the donation is for the Hearts for Hospice project.
We are also looking for people who would be willing to donate time to these projects. It would wonderful to be able to offer boat trips, helicopter spins, wild life experiences, pampering/massages or paragliding trips or even picnics on a beautiful farm. We can only make this work if our Hospice friends are willing and able to help.
Please contact Ashleigh Smith on 044) 384-0593 to find out how you can help.