Link. Hospice. A Salute to Sembcorp. In this issue. JUN 2013 Vol. 22, N o. 6

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1 In this issue A Salute to Sembcorp Hospice Link JUN 2013 Vol. 22, N o. 6 By Joyce Ong Community Engagement, Assisi Hospice We were coming up to the annual Christmas celebration for our patients at Assisi Hospice in Then we received the news our major sponsor for this event had to pull out because of the Asian financial crisis that year. Palliative Care: Drawing Inspiration from Around the World Page 4 Singapore Cancer Society: Raising the Bar in Hospice Home Care Pages 6 A potential crisis was averted when Sembcorp offered to step in to ensure that the show could go on. Little did we know that this would turn out to be a true blessing in disguise! From that point on, Sembcorp went on to adopt Assisi Hospice as its charity, with a pledge to be our corporate sponsor for the next three years. Now, five years on, Sembcorp continues with its strong support of Assisi Hospice, and has contributed significantly to the success of our fundraising events including our Charity Fun Day, Charity Dinner and Christmas Light-Up. It is truly heart-warming to witness Sembcorp s management and staff working together hand-in-hand, reflecting their love and care for our patients, beyond just monetary terms. They have shown us the true meaning of community spirit to help the less fortunate. At Assisi s Charity Fun Day, more than 100 staff toiled for three days to provide pre- to post-event support, including handling the massive logistics, setting up tables and chairs, manning stalls, transporting items, moving crates, directing traffic under the sweltering sun and dismantling the stalls before putting everything back in order. And when Christmas comes around again, this incredible Sembcorp team will come forward to co-organise the Christmas Light-Up celebrations. In addition to putting up a sumptuous buffet spread and stage performances, they will bring Christmas St Joseph s Home & Hospice: A Night Respite Programme Pages 20 Continue on page HCA Hospice Care: Awarded for Selfless Dedication Page 22

2 of Events 28 Apr to 16 Jun Cycling for Charity Spokes And Sprouts 2 by Assisi Hospice A fundraising cycling journey from China to Singapore in aid of Assisi Hospice For queries, jasmine_lim@assisihospice.org.sg/ teo_sh@assisihospice.org.sg or call / to 22 Jun pm (Sat only) Caregivers Training Programme (Palliative Care) by HCA Hospice Care at various HCA Centres Interested parties, please contact: or visit org.sg/services/palliative-caregiversprogramme for more info and to download an application form 16 Jun Time: 10am pm Charity Fun Day 2013 by Assisi Hospice at SJI International For queries, jasmine_lim@assisihospice.org.sg / teo_sh@assisihospice.org.sg or call / & 2 Jul 9.00 am pm End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Workshop by Dover Park Hospice *For Registered Nurses and Enrolled Nurses involved in Palliative Care. at Dover Park Hospice For more information: please contact DPH Training and Development Department at dph_training@doverpark.org.sg 23 Aug to 18 Oct pm (Fri) Introduction to Palliative Care Nursing Course for Enrolled Nurses and Nursing Aides by Dover Park Hospice *Participants must have completed ISC in Healthcare. at Dover Park Hospice Please contact DPH Training and Development Department at dph_training@doverpark.org.sg for more information 3 Jul 9.00 am pm End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Train the Trainers by Dover Park Hospice *Participants must complete ELNEC workshops and preferably have at least 1 year of experience in Palliative Care. at Dover Park Hospice Please contact DPH Training and Development Department at dph_training@doverpark.org.sg for more information. 7 to 11 Sep Singapore Watercolour Society Annual Exhibition With selected art pieces sold in aid of Assisi Hospice at ARTrium, MICA Building For queries, jasmine_lim@assisihospice.org.sg / teo_sh@assisihospice.org.sg or call / to 19 Jul Play: Don t Know, Don t Care by HCA Hospice Care in collaboration with The Necessary Stage. About a family coping with life-limiting illness. Interested schools and organisations please contact to schedule a performance or info@hcahospicecare.org.sg 21 Sep Volunteer Orientation Course (New Volunteers) by Dover Park Hospice at Dover Park Hospice 10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore To register, please volunteer@doverpark.org.sg

3 Don t miss these upcoming events! MEMBER ORGANISATIONS 22 Jun, 20 Jul, 24 Aug, 21 Sep 23 Jun am pm Agape Methodist Hospice 70 Barker Road #05-03 Singapore Tel: admin@amh.mws.org.sg Assisi Hospice 820 Thomson Road Singapore Tel: assisi@assisihospice.org.sg Volunteer Orientation & Training by Assisi Hospice at Assisi Hospice, Education Room (2nd floor) To register, please Chin Hui at: yu_ch@assisihospice.org.sg or call Blood Donation Drive by Metta Hospice Care at Changi Simei CC Multi Purpose Hall, 10 Simei Street 2, S(529915) For more information please contact nursyameen@metta.org.sg Bright Vision Hospital 5 Lor Napiri Singapore Tel: enquiries@bvh.org.sg Changi General Hospital 2 Simei St 3 Singapore Tel: Jul, 26 Oct Pt 1 13 Jul, 2 Nov Pt 2 Basic Palliative Care Volunteer Training in English by Dover Park Hospice at Dover Park Hospice 10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore To register, please volunteer@doverpark.org.sg 21 Jul 7.00 am am Race Against Cancer 2013 by Singapore Cancer Society at Angsana Green, East Coast Park Register now at or RAC@singaporecancersociety.org.sg for enquiries 5 to 19 Jul pm (Wed) 8.00 am pm (Sat) Specialist Diploma in Palliative Care Nursing by HCA Hospice Care Interested parties, please contact: or visit sg/services/palliative-caregivers-programme for more info and to download an application form Dover Park Hospice 10 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore Tel: info@doverpark.org.sg Khoo Teck Puat Hospital 90 Yishun Central Singapore Tel: enquiry@alexandrahealth.com.sg Lien Centre for Palliative Care 8 College Road, Level 5 Singapore Tel: info@lienpallcare.org HCA Hospice Care 12 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore Tel: info@hcahospicecare.org.sg KK Women s & Children s Hospital Paediatric Palliative Care Service 100 Bukit Timah Road Singapore Tel: Metta Hospice Care 32 Simei Street 1 Metta Building Singapore Tel: hhospice@metta.org.sg 29 Sep pm Assisi s Charity Dinner 2013 by Assisi Hospice Pan Pacific Hotel For queries, jasmine_lim@assisihospice.org.sg / teo_sh@assisihospice.org.sg or call / Singapore Cancer Society 15 Enggor Street #04-01 to 04 Realty Centre Singapore Tel: enquiry@singaporecancersociety.org.sg St. Joseph s Home & Hospice 921 Jurong Road Singapore Tel: stjoseph@stjh.org.sg National Cancer Centre Singapore Dept. of Palliative Medicine 11 Hospital Drive Singapore Tel: Tan Tock Seng Hospital 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng Singapore Tel: Hospice Link 3

4 Editorial Reflections on Palliative Care Drawing Inspiration from Arou By Christina Stanley Editor Talking about death won t kill you. Not talking about death won t make it go away. Talking about death means talking about life. These words spoken by Lee Poh Wah of the Lien Foundation have always resonated with me. All the more so now that I have come to understand that every person who is debilitated by illness, and is towards the end of his life is entitled to palliative care that will allow him to live his last days pain-free, serene and in control. More volunteers coming forward to give time and resources. More doctors and nurses stepping forth to train in this area of care. The integration of palliative care into national health-care. In 2010, the Lien Foundation commissioned the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) to set up a Quality of Death Index. Forty countries were ranked based on 24 indicators in four categories : basic end-of-life healthcare environment, availability of end-of-life care, cost and quality of end-of-life. Today three years later, this Index remains the only such index of its kind. If you want to understand the international landscape out there, the best practices and salient issues, do read the White Paper on this Index at about prognoses and ample pain medication is given to minimise physical suffering. It is not surprising that UK took top ranking after all, palliative care was first pioneered at St Christopher s Hospice in the UK by Dame Cicely Saunders, the founder of the hospice movement in Other developed countries like Denmark and Finland ranked lower because their focus is on preventing death, rather than helping people to live comfortably and pain-free before death sets in. Singapore was ranked 18th in this index. As efficient as we are in improving the quality of life in our country, there is a lot that we need to do to improve the process and quality of dying. Education, awareness and removing cultural taboos are perhaps areas that we need to look into. Let us look at how palliative care organisations do it in other parts of the world. For this to become a natural part of our social landscape, some key elements must be in place. Understanding and expecting a level of palliative care that gives you the power and the control in how you want to live your life. Dispelling the subject of death as taboo and addressing it squarely. Changing mindsets to view end-of-life concerns not as a burden, because you know you will be amply supported by a mode of care that allows continued quality of life. UK ranked the highest in terms of its hospice care network and statutory involvement in end-of-life care. The UK has a well-established hospice movement that cares for people near death, their doctors tend to be open and transparent In India one of the world s most densely populated countries Pallium India ( works with central and state governments to integrate palliative care into health care, facilitates education and training on the subject and improves access to affordable medicines like morphine and opioids. While India is one of the world s largest economies, it is also one of the poorest in terms of per capita. With centres set up in five states around India and two training centres, Pallium India has also gone right down to the ground to extend practical assistance from buying cows for families, 4 Hospice Link

5 nd the World setting up small shops, giving a man who had lost the use of his legs an office chair on wheels and supporting children affected by dying parents through school. Their ethos is Care Before Cure, and clearly they are doing this through their rehabilitation programmes and practical assistance. In the UK Help the Hospices ( is the charity for hospice care, and reaches out to patients, carers and supporters. They have a year-round calendar of vibrant and upbeat programmes in place and recently, they launched the UK version of an iphone and mobile web app called ehospice with international partners. The app is a platform for collaboration and interaction that will enable professionals and all involved in hospice, palliative and end of life care to easily share information, advice, resources to ultimately improve patient care. It wlll offer instant access to the latest news and good practices, as well as inspirational stories and photo galleries and events. A directory of world-wide services is also available. Other country editions include the US, South Africa, Australia and India. All editions are available from one website and app. To check it out visit Just earlier in May 2013, the first Hospice Retail Awards was organised by Help the Hospices. The Earl Mountbatten Hospice, located on the Isle of Wight clinched the top prize for the Most Inventive Hospice Retail Initiative, in an unusual collaboration with their local prison. Concrete garden ornaments made by the prisoners were sold through their network of shops on the island. This was a meaningful initiative as it represented a revenue stream for the prison, and provided a vital link between the community and the prisoners. Visit iwhospice.org. National Palliative Care or Awareness Week was celebrated in both Australia and New Zealand (ranked 2nd and 3rd in the Quality of Death Index) in May Palliative Care Australia set up a MyTribute website for individuals to remember their loved ones. Among many events, a Your Death, Your Choice community forum was organised, and an unusual event called the Human Rooms Arts Programme which utilised sensory elements of lighting, film and sound in combination with interior and architectural design to transform hospital rooms into peaceful and relaxing environments. Visit www. palliativecare.org.au. Living Every Moment is Hospice New Zealand s call to action ( and their Awareness Week included seminars, street appeals for funds and volunteers, as well as a very novel idea Hospice Cuppa. A Hospice Cuppa pack More on page Hospice Link 5

6 SCS Raises the Bar in Hospice Home Care Dr Kok Jaan Yang, a specialist in palliative medicine helps SCS to improve its hospice home care to meet new challenges. Nicholas Pang Senior Executive, Community Partnerships, Singapore Cancer Society Dr. Kok at his bi-monthly meeting with the SCS Hospice Home Care Team. Dr Kok Jaan Yang s first encounter with palliative care was when he was a medical student and his mother was diagnosed with advanced stage cancer in During her last days, doctors and nurses from the early hospice home care movement made regular house calls at their three-room flat in Tanjong Pagar. Their dedicated care and concern for his mother inspired him to specialise in palliative medicine after he graduated. He has since worked in Dover Park Hospice, was Visiting Consultant in National University Hospital and is now with Parkway Cancer Centre where he is a senior consultant in palliative medicine. It was with his experience and expertise in mind that the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) sought Dr Kok s assistance in further developing its Hospice Home Care service. Although the SCS Hospice Home Care team was first formed in 1987 to provide medical and psychosocial support to advanced-stage cancer sufferers and their caregivers in their homes, the challenges that the team faces are changing with the times Having already successfully helped the Agape Methodist Hospice to restructure their hospice home care services in 2007, Dr Kok was invited to join SCS as a Visiting Consultant in July 2012 to evaluate how well its current operational processes and clinical practices are meeting the growing needs of the community. With the full support of the SCS Hospice Home Care team, the SCS Council, and the new CEO, Albert Ching, Dr Kok spent the first few months familiarising himself with how the team carried out its tasks, with particular attention directed towards identifying deficiencies in work flow, knowledge, and skills. Following that, he came up with several key recommendations to strengthen the capabilities of the SCS Hospice Home Care team. The first key recommendation advocated by Dr. Kok was to recruit more doctors and nurses About the SCS Home Care Team The SCS Home Care Team comprises one full-time doctor, five nurses and locum doctors qualified in the field of palliative care. They develop customised plans for each patient under their care. The customised plan includes providing nursing, hospice and palliative care, plus education and support for patients and their families. The Home Care nurses visit patients under their charge on a weekly basis (more frequently for cases which require greater attention) to provide nursing care. to cope with the increasing demand for hospice home care. This year, SCS plans to increase its full-time staff by about 50 per cent. The second key recommendation involves increasing the reliability and sustainability of the SCS Hospice Home Care team by raising it beyond the level of a programme to that of a new division and providing it with the appropriate resources. This will not only allow SCS greater responsiveness in addressing the changing needs on the ground but will also enable it to address the demands placed upon staff. Indeed, the SCS Council has committed S$10 million over the next three years to scale up operations to meet the growing need for hospice home care services. With the likelihood of life-threatening illnesses such as cancer increasing with age, there is a realisation that despite the advancements made in cancer research, there is no miracle cure for the disease. Besides aggressively treating cancer during its early stages, more families are recognising that there may come a time when more can be done to minimise pain and improve the quality of life of cancer sufferers as they approach the end of their journeys, especially for those in their old age. However, as Dr Kok will tell you, there will always be challenges. He says: Palliative care is still a very new specialty compared to other established medical specialties. Many doctors and nurses may still feel very uncomfortable dealing with dying patients or addressing end-of-life issues and are thus reluctant to join the palliative care workforce. Yet, there is an urgent need to attract more doctors and nurses to receive training in palliative medicine and nursing to meet the needs of the ageing population in Singapore. With these recommendations in place, SCS aims to provide even better hospice home care in the years to come. Providing the personal touch in hospice home care. 6 Hospice Link

7 Preparing for the inevitable By Cheryl Goh, Manager, Communications & Fundraising, Methodist Welfare Services for Agape Methodist Hospice Not many people would like to think about end-of-life plans. Not many are comfortable to discuss what they want for their funeral. Not so for Edlin. Edlin has looked through her photos to shortlist which she would like to display at her wake when she goes. She has also decided on which pieces of music to play. Most would consider this a morbid exercise. But not so for Edlin - she is comfortable making end-of-life plans because as a medical social worker she has spent much time helping her patients at Agape Methodist Hospice(Homecare) (AMH) to make such plans. Social Work in Palliative Care AMH provides palliative care to persons with advanced illnesses. Edlin befriends these patients and their caregivers and supports them by accompanying them on the last leg of their journey on earth. Being a medical social worker at AMH involves more than solving interpersonal conflicts, Edlin helps her patients to look inwards, to manage any issues that they may have. Beyond just solving problems Edlin doesn t just work with her clients to solve problems. She says: I want to give hope to those who might have lost hope when diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Her desire is that her patients come to terms with their illnesses and face life courageously. One of her patients, Mr Lim, in his 70 s was diagnosed with lung cancer and subsequently his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer. Their son was working on piecemeal jobs and was not able to support his own family, much less his parents. Edlin managed to help them apply for financial help, and they had renewed hopes again when they obtained NTUC vouchers. She About Agape Methodist Hospice (AMH Homecare) AMH Homecare, a community outreach of Methodist Welfare Services, is a 24-hour homecare service that provides medical and nursing support, as well as befriending those with advanced illnesses, and supporting them emotionally and spiritually. Edlin, 2nd from right, journeying with patient s son, Abdul Rahman and family. even brought him to ride the Singapore Flyer when he was feeling down, watching his wife s life fade away in the hospice. When Mr Lim s daughter-in-law was upset with the live-in arrangement after Mr Lim s wife passed away, Edlin played the mediator between them. Knowing that Mr Lim wished to give his grandson something precious before he passes on, Edlin helped him to apply for Make-A-Wish Foundation and he fulfilled his last wish a necklace for his grandson. For medical social workers like Edlin, working with patients who are terminally ill, it can be emotionally draining but it is also fulfilling when you know that you have played a part in helping them live out their final days with courage and dignity. Making meaning out of confusion Her gentle demeanour and quiet ways have led many patients to open up and express their innermost thoughts and fears. In the process, she helps them face their issues and make meaning out of their confusion and fears. She will help them to face their issues and make meaning out of their confusion and fears. She helps them see that they are not alone in the battle with their illnesses. She will journey with them to the end. Helping terminal patients face their last days has also prompted Edlin to work through fears about death. She deals with it by journaling memories of her patients, girded by her strong faith in God. I will think of the happy times I have spent with my patients but if I feel sad, I will let the tears flow, she said. Hospice Link 7

8 End-of-life decision making Through the Singapore lens By Sumytra Menon, Senior Associate in Research, Lien Centre for Palliative Centre The Lien Centre for Palliative Care hosted a talk by Dr Nancy Berlinger on March 28. She is a research scholar at the Hastings Center, New York where she directed the project that produced the revised and expanded second edition of The Hastings Center Guidelines for Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment and Care Near the End of Life (Oxford University Press, 2013). The focus of her talk was to explore some of those ethical guidelines through the Singapore lens, in the light of her recent experience with local issues on end-of-life decision making. Dr Berlinger was in Singapore to work with colleagues from the Centre for Biomedical Ethics (NUS) and the Ethox Centre (Oxford University), where she is consultant on a project to develop Making Difficult Medical Decisions, an innovative web-based ethics casebook for Singapore clinicians, which is funded by the Lien Foundation. Dr Nancy Berlinger answering questions from the audience. As expected, there were no clear answers, but it sparked a lively question and answer session on many important aspects of decision-making. About 50 healthcare professionals attended the talk, which was held at the Duke-NUS Auditorium. Dr Berlinger provided some context about the evolution of the guidelines and explained her understanding of terms like family and filial piety when making difficult medical decisions. The audience posed many questions to her at the end of her talk to further probe how such decisions can be approached and considered from an ethical perspective, given the complexities of our multi-cultural and multi-religious society. CALLING HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS! LCPC is embarking on a PALLIATIVE CARE EDUCATION NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY, to better understand the educational and training needs of healthcare professionals who care for patients with life-limiting conditions. We would love to hear from you! WHO can take part? Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and psychosocial professionals (e.g. counsellors and social workers). How do YOU take part? Spare us 15 minutes and complete an anonymous survey at www. lcpcsurvey.com. Alternatively, if you would prefer multiple paper copies for your organisation, please contact us at lcpc@duke-nus.edu.sg. LET YOUR VOICES BE HEARD! 8 Hospice Link

9 Caregivers make time for some serious fun By Contributing Writer HCA Hospice Care Caring for a child with a critical condition or special needs is hard work. On Saturday, 9 March 2013, some 40 family caregivers gamely accepted a special invitation extended to them by the Star PALS team, to play as hard as they have been working in their role as caregivers. Participating caregivers including siblings, parents and grandparents set aside a day just to have some serious fun during an activity camp organised by Star PALS held at the Orchid Country Club. And they were able to do so with absolute peace of mind, thanks to the trained respite caregivers (known as Medi- Minders ) and professional nurses who were present to accompany and care for the children. Nurses, medical social workers, counsellors and volunteers were on hand that day to assist, making sure that the patients, their siblings and even grandparents who came by were comfortable and well looked after. I believe our care extends beyond our patients to those around them at home, says Dr Chong Poh Heng, Programme Director of Star PALS. I m really pleased to note that by the end of the day, every member in the family knows that their well-being means as much to us as that of their child s. Dr Chong added that as a paediatric palliative care team in the community, Star PALS aims to deliver comprehensive and family-centred care by addressing medical needs, providing counselling and psychosocial support, and guiding families to the appropriate aid channels where necessary. One key highlight of the camp featured a closed-door dialogue sharing among the participants. It served as a platform for caregivers in similar circumstances to network and to share their unique experiences with the Star PALS team which provided emotional support and practical advice on how they could prepare themselves and cope more effectively as caregivers. Since the start of operations in April 2012, Star PALS has supported over 50 children and their families. The service which is offered by HCA Hospice Care supports over 25 patients at any one time. While there were several activities I felt [my] greatest gain was from the dialogue sharing with all participating parents. It was a time [for us] to share our tears and learn from each other and, last but not least, how to prepare [ourselves] and to overcome the [challenges] that we face. I really appreciate and am thankful to Star PALS and the volunteers for organising such a meaningful event to gather the parents to come along to have a day off and [contributing] precious time. Kin Nam Father of Amelia, a Star PALS beneficiary It was a great privilege to be entrusted with caring for the children who require 24-hour care. This camp allowed the parents and siblings the chance to have fun but, more importantly, to meet other families who have the same daily joys and struggles of caring for a physically dependent child. My key responsibility for that day, and the responsibility of all the other volunteers, nurses and Medi-Minders, was to allow the parents to leave their precious children in our care, knowing that we would care for them as if they were our own, and that they were free to ring us to ask how the children were doing We just hoped for the families to have some fun while being supported within an environment that was conducive for them to speak candidly and honestly in the presence of our trained professional counsellors. Kay Thomson Medi-Minder Coordinator, Star PALS Caregivers usually put in more than 100 per cent into caring for their loved ones and often neglect looking after themselves Through events like the Star PALS Family Day 2013, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to energise themselves, as the constant strain of caring for a loved one can be physically and mentally overwhelming It was a wonderful opportunity to get up close in an informal setting. I will never forget how we shot arrows side by side at the archery range in friendly competition! Dr Chong Poh Heng Programme Director, Star PALS Hospice Link 9

10 By Community Engagement Team, Bright Vision Hospital It was just days before the Lunar New Year and as busy as they were, some 92 volunteers made the time to help in a charity bazaar to help raise funds for needy patients at Bright Vision Hospital. The Bright Vision Hospital Charity Bazaar 2013 had 14 booths selling items ranging from packaged food, handmade bouquets to decorative ornaments from vendors such as Japan Home, Unisoy and Le Floral. Funtastic Balloons made and sold balloon sculptures to delightful children. Shoppers at the mall who were there to do their shopping for the Lunar New Year dropped in at the charity bazaar and picked up some good buys knowing that the money was going to help the less fortunate. In keeping with the festive season, there was a Chinese calligraphy booth where shoppers paid a small sum to have the calligrapher write auspicious couplets to decorate their homes. Some $15,000 was raised from the charity bazaar. Charity Netball 17 (primary) & 23 (secondary/tertiary) March 2013 Kallang Netball Centre By Community Engagement Team, Bright Vision Hospital The scorching morning sun definitely did not dampen the high spirits of the students who took part in the Bright Vision Hospital (BVH) Schools Charity Netball Competition. The competition which was held at the Kallang Netball Centre in March drew about 150 primary and close to 700 secondary/tertiary schools students. The event aimed to raise awareness of the medical needs of the elderly community while providing an opportunity for the youths to play a part in helping the needy. The BVH Schools Charity Netball collected more than $120,000 by the end of the two-day event. Everyone from the coaches, players as well as family and friends who were there as spectators were in high spirits knowing that they were all there for a good cause. Although the final rounds of the netball competition were cancelled because of bad weather, in the name of sportsmanship and charity, no one minded that the results were then based on the average goals obtained by each team. Apart from the competition, an Experiential Centre was set up by therapists from BVH for visitors to learn about the daily challenges of the elderly. The guest of honour for the event, Ms Jessica Tan, Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC & President of Netball Singapore was invited to present the medals and prizes to the winning teams. 10 Hospice Link

11 Live Well, Leave Well : Reaching Out to the Community The Singapore Hospice Council continues its efforts to raise hospice and palliative care awareness throughout the community via its Community Outreach Programme. For more details on the line-up of SHC s community outreach activities, please visit our website at www. singaporehospice.org.sg Health Talk cum Luncheon Organised by Telok Blangah Community Club Active Ageing Committee at Mount Faber SAFRA Sunday, 10 March 2013 SHC booth participation at Health Screening cum Wellness Exhibition Organised by Kampong Chai Chee Community Club Active Ageing Committee Saturday, 23 March 2013 Interactive workshop cum a presentation on Palliative and Hospice Care Organised by Telok Blangah Garden Residents Committee Friday, 5 April 2013 Interactive workshop cum a presentation on Palliative and Hospice Care Organised by Kolam Ayer Community Club Senior Citizen Executive Committee Monday, 1 April 2013 Flower Power for OCBC Cycle April 2013 F1 Pit Building By Daryl Tan Corporate Communications Executive, Dover Park Hospice Five sunflower-decked bicycles stood out from the throng of bicycles awaiting the flag off for the annual OCBC Cycle event on the morning of Sunday, April 28. They were our Sunflower Riders about to set off on a 42 km journey to raise funds for Dover Park Hospice and at the same time raise awareness about Palliative Care. The five fund-raisers are involved in palliative care in one way or another. One of them, Mr Ian Chiang is a former caregiver whose loved had received palliative care at Dover Park Hospice. All set and ready to get going, Mr Chiang said that he looked forward to having the rush of the fresh morning breeze into my face. It is an honour to be involved in this charity challenge, as I certainly feel privileged to be the few selected to help raise funds for Dover Park Hospice while knowing how these funds can significantly help the patients and their families, said Mr Chiang. He added: Dover Park Hospice has given generous amount of unconditional care to my loved one. To witness those moments touched my family s heart a lot and that kept us going even stronger. Ian Chiang is one of the five sunflower riders who represented Dover Park Hospice in the OCBC Cycle 2013 event seeking to raise awareness for palliative care as well as funds for the hospice. Hospice Link 11

12 Doctor runs Marathon for DPH By Daryl Tan, Corporate Communications Executive, Dover Park Hospice Medical officer Dr. Ong Eng Koon makes use of his passion for running to do something meaningful for Dover Park Hospice. On June 1, he will be running in the Sundown Marathon to raise funds for Dover Park Hospice. Dr Ong and his team hope to raise at least $10,000 and at the same time raise awareness of hospice care. He was motivated to do this after doing his term rotation at Dover Park Hospice. He said: Compared to working in a hospital, it s very different in a hospice. From my interaction with the patients and their families, I ve found out that money is a big concern for them. As busy as all of us are, we make the effort to spend time talking to them. And it s their appreciation which keeps us going in the end. Palliative care focuses more on the psychosocial and emotional care for the patients and their families which is just as important, if not more so than the medicine we may be giving them. One of his team members, Dr Vanessa Tan was moved by the care given to her mother when she was suffering from cancer. She said: When my mother was admitted to a hospital as a palliative patient, the whole family wasn t in the best spirits. But when this particular palliative doctor came by and spoke to her in a way that made her smile, I was most impressed. Dr. Ong hopes that this event will become an annual fundraising event for Dover Park Hospice so that more people can join their efforts in running to promote Dover Park Hospice s work, raise awareness for palliative care and much needed funds. The others in the team are Ms Regina Ong, Dr Sim Wen Yuan, Dr Mok Shao Feng and Dr Jean Lee. Go to for more information to find out how you can support them in this good cause. Don t Know, Don t Care: Is This Who We Are? By Contributing Writer HCA Hospice Care Written by Haresh Sharma of The Necessary Stage (TNS), Don t Know, Don t Care is a play that incorporates forum theatre to highlight important psychosocial and emotional issues arising from life-limiting illness in a family. Wrapped up in their own lives, the family is pushed out of its comfort zone when the grandfather in the family is taken ill. Don t Know, Don t Care traces the development of familial relationships under the pressure of caring for a loved one. This theatre outreach platform enhances the Young Caregivers Programme (ycg), a student outreach arm of HCA Hospice Care, dedicated to educating youths and students on issues pertaining to eldercare, hospice and palliative care. ycg successfully reached out to over 1,500 students with Don t Know, Don t Care when it was first staged in July 2012 in nine participating secondary schools. Scenes from the forum theatre experience: Students were encouraged to role-play with the actors by stepping into the shoes of a chosen character. Photo Credit: Safiah Sulaiman With another run between 5 to 19 July, interested schools and organisations are welcome to contact or info@hcahospicecare.org.sg to find out if it can be staged for you. 12 Hospice Link

13 Patient Portrait Project Capturing the Moments that Matter By Daryl Tan Corporate Communications Executive, Dover Park Hospice photograph does not just capture a moment in our lives; it A takes a segment of our memory and records it permanently for many years to come In Dover Park Hospice, we believe in making every moment matter, making and recording memories for our patients and their loved ones. It is with this belief that Patient Portrait Project was launched as part of Dover Park Hospice s celebration of 20 years of Hospice care. The project is a free opt-in photography service that seeks to capture moments for the patients and their family members. A group of professional photographers were roped in to this project, to volunteer their skills and camera to take portrait shots of our patients and their family members. Every Saturday morning, patients who signed up for the service can be seen excitedly dressing up for the photography session - the ladies taking great pains to put on their make-up and the men, combing their hair carefully all wanting to look their best before the camera. It is heartwarming to see patients and their families waiting eagerly for their turn to have their photograph taken. It is almost at that moment they seem to forget about their illness. One of the patients Madam Chai who had a photograph taken of herself and her family said: I think this is a wonderful idea. I m very happy to have my whole family come together to have our photograph taken. My son who usually doesn t smile in photographs he smiled so brightly in this photo. Volunteer photographer, Mr Aundry Gan said: Whenever I see the patients give their best smile for my camera even when they are ill, I know that is the winning shot. A professional photographer, he said that he was able to share in the excitement of the family members coming together for a special occasion such as this as he too had cared for his late grandmother when she was ill. Patient Portrait Project happens every Saturday morning from 10am onwards at Dover Park Hospice. For more information, please contact tiensin_lee@doverpark.org.sg or daryl_tan@doverpark.org.sg. About Dover Park Hospice Dover Park Hospice provides in-residence hospice care as well as a 24-hour home care support service, to bring comfort, relief of symptoms and palliative care to patients with advanced disease regardless of age, race or religion, as well as support for grieving families. Dover Park Hospice on Facebook By Daryl Tan Corporate Communications Executive, Dover Park Hospice Dover Park Hospice recently launched its official Facebook page to reach out to more people and to raise public awareness about hospice and palliative care. It features information about the hospice, their events as well as educational material about palliative care. Visit our Facebook page at the link below, or scan the QR code to enter into our page easily on your smartphone! Like our page, and join us in our mission to spread the message of Hospice Care to more people today! Hospice Link 13

14 A Salute to Sembcorp... continued from page 1 presents as well to cheer up our patients and their families. During the celebrations, Christmas gifts will also be brought to our patients in the wards, who are too ill to join the party. We have received many thank you messages from our grateful patients. A patient s daughter wrote : My mother would like to thank the Sembcorp volunteer, Mr Dinesh, maintenance technician, who stayed with her throughout the evening and helped her into the car at the end. Sembcorp volunteers have indeed touched the hearts of our patients and have brought them joy in the midst of the challenges they face with their illnesses. Besides these major community events, Sembcorp has also been generous in sponsoring our Charity Dinner tables. They have also actively supported many other fundraising initiatives in the past including Assisi s Adopt-A-Bear project and this year s Cycling for Charity Spokes and Sprouts 2 where they have generously sponsored $100,000 in support of a Singaporean cyclist travelling 500 km from China to Singapore to raise funds for Assisi Hospice. In fact, a team of Sembcorp cyclists will join our Singaporean cyclist in his journey from Malacca to Singapore in June In line with their Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, Sembcorp has indeed proven to live out their commitment to the community to act as a responsible corporate citizen through support for community care initiatives, community partnerships and philanthropic and charitable causes. As a charity, Assisi Hospice depends very much on the generosity of the community for sponsorship, donations and volunteers without whom we would not have been able to achieve our goal at all our events. Our current operating expense is $8 million a year, and we are required to fund-raise 60% of this amount. Our areas of services at Assisi Hospice Inpatient, Home Care and Day Care hinge primarily on the extent of support that we are able to garner from our community. On behalf of all of us at Assisi Hospice, and especially our patients, thank you Sembcorp for all your support and care that has enabled us to continue to bring much comfort and dignity to the lives of the patients in our care. About Assisi Hospice For the past 44 years, Assisi Hospice has cared for the sick, the dying and the poor. Our services include Inpatient Care, Home Care and Day Care that support the medical, nursing, psychosocial and spiritual needs of our adult and paediatric patients and their families. 14 Hospice Link

15 More than just a listening ear Counselling helps people to reflect, review and become more aware of their situation. By Tay Jia Sen Counsellor, Metta Hospice Care When a debilitating illness hits, it can evoke a sense of loss and helplessness. Sometimes it might feel as though the losses are greater than the gains in life and this often leaves the feeling that hope has eluded life. Towards the end of life, issues regarding existentialism and spirituality might arise. Patients may question the meaning of life and wonder where they would be heading towards after the end of their life. The dynamics of the family can be affected when a family member is taken ill. This is because a family unit comprises family relationships that are interlinked with one another. Taking care of a family member who is unwell can be a real challenge. Caregivers face the risk of burnout if they are not equipped with the care giving skills or are emotionally stretched from the long hours of attending to the patient. Some of the common issues of loss include loss of independence, societal roles, and relationships. Impending losses, such as the eventual demise of a loved one, can raise issues of anticipatory grief in not only the significant others of the patient, but also within the patient him/herself. It is often a misconception that counselling is used to alter a person s personality or advice-giving. Counselling is a process which assists patients to reflect, review and become more aware 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. of their personal situation. It provides the opportunity for individuals or families to express their feelings. It draws on to the internal and external resources of the patients so that they can choose to develop alternative ways of coping with their issues and to take responsibility in living their lives. Counselling creates a safe environment and provides the patient with a listening ear to share their feelings. The neutral presence of the counsellor allows patients to express their emotions without feeling being judged. Through the counseling process, counseling may help people to develop more fulfilling relationships with others, learn more about the needs of own self, express oneself better and promote a general sense of well-being. Counselling can also help to explore the rationale behind a patient s behaviour. For example, Mr T s family perceived his behaviour at home as uncooperative and resistant. However, after a few interviews with the patient, it was discovered that the patient chose to behave in a certain way because that was one of the few aspects of his lifestyle which he still had control over. With the benefit of this awareness, family members were able to reframe their perspective, and to understand why the patient chose to behave this way, instead of viewing him as resistant and uncooperative. Hospice Link 15

16 A CEO s Perspective By Christina Stanley Editor We continue our series on A CEO s Perspective, and in this issue, we had the opportunity to chat with Dr R Akhilesh, CEO and Medical Director of HCA Hospice Care, who has been at the helm of Singapore s largest home hospice provider since Dr Akhilesh is also currently Chairman of the Singapore Hospice Council. Please tell us what you were doing prior to joining HCA. I was the Head of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Palliative Medicine at Manipal Hospital, Bangalore, India before I joined HCA in May 2001 as its medical director. I was promoted to be HCA s CEO and Medical Director in Share with us how you became interested in the area of palliative care. I obtained the Diploma in Palliative Medicine from the University of Wales, UK in This Diploma was one of the very few formal training programmes available for Palliative Medicine in the world at that time. As a Radiation Oncologist, I saw a number of patients who needed palliation of their symptoms despite the oncological treatments that they were receiving. This spurred me on to train in Palliative Medicine. Are there enough doctors in Singapore who are trained in palliative care? Would you encourage young doctors to consider this area of specialty, and what would you say to them? Currently, there are not enough doctors in Singapore who are trained in Palliative Medicine. But the numbers are increasing gradually since Palliative Medicine has been recognised as a sub-specialty here and Advanced Specialist Training has become available locally. I would encourage young doctors to be attached to Palliative Medicine Units in hospitals or the hospices in the community to understand what this specialty is all about. They could do so as Medical Officers or check with the respective units on how they could be attached there. Once they are able to do that, they would be able to decide for themselves whether this is the specialty that they would like to pursue. All I can say to them is that I have found Palliative Care to be a challenging, yet very satisfying and meaningful medical career option. What is a typical day for you at HCA? I have to juggle my clinical and administrative responsibilities every day. It s about 40 per cent clinical and 60 per cent administrative, but sometimes it s the other way around. There are clinical discussions and administrative meetings to attend. The bulk of my work revolves around our home hospice and day hospice programmes. Most of my administrative work is tied to my clinical work, and so both complement each other nicely. Your main HQ is at Jalan Tan Tock Seng. And you have five satellite centres. Do these other centres provide day care facilities too, or are they meant only to support your home care providers? HCA s Home Hospice and Day Hospice Services are its core activities. The rest of the programmes, Palliative Caregiver Training, Young Caregiver Programme, Medical Equipment Loan Service support its core activities. Star PALS is HCA s pediatric palliative care programme launched just over a year ago. Besides HCA s HQ at 12 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, we have four satellite centres in Jurong, Hougang, Bedok and Woodlands. We have five clinical teams (home hospice teams), one functioning from the HQ and four from the satellite centres. Currently, we have only one day hospice centre at our HQ. The four satellite centres house our home hospice teams and also serve as Palliative Caregiver Training Centres. So HCA ensures that besides serving our home hospice patients, we also support the caregivers through appropriate training. This helps caregivers cope with the care of their loved ones at home. 16 Hospice Link

17 StarPals was launched one year ago. How is it coming along? Is it only to provide home palliative care to children below 19? Star PALS, HCA s Pediatric Palliative Care Programme completed its first year of operations in March We have been able to care for more than 50 children during that period. Our initial estimation was 30 patients in one year, but we have exceeded that target. The response to this programme has been very good, and the feedback from the parents of the patients has been extremely positive and heart-warming. What is your dream for HCA? How would you like to see it evolved? HCA s vision is to be the Centre of Excellence in Home Hospice Care. We have been slowly, but surely growing in developing excellence in all that we do. My dream for HCA, which I shared with NCSS (National Council of Social Services) staff many years ago, is for HCA to be recognised as a World Class Service Provider and I do hope that dream comes true! HCA has grown from looking after 300 to 350 patients at any given time in 2001 to currently 850 to 900 patients at any given time. We now want to consolidate this growth instead of continuing to grow more. While we do that, we will strive to maintain the good quality of our service to our patients and caregivers. How do you think we can build greater awareness for hospice and palliative care? What has been your own experience when dealing with patients and their families in terms of their awareness, or lack of palliative care? The awareness of hospice and palliative care has been increasing in the general public as the Ministry of Health has turned its attention to developing this sector and the media has been very supportive in featuring relevant stories and articles from time to time. We will have to continue our concerted efforts as service providers and work hand in hand with the Singapore Hospice Council to reach out to those who need the service, but unfortunately are unaware or have misconceptions about it. My own experience is that once people understand the importance of the hospice and palliative care and how it meets their needs, they are easily won over. I have found the support for this work growing over the years. Based on your experience in this sector, what do you think are the most common misconceptions of hospice and palliative care? The most common misconception is that people equate hospice and palliative care with death and dying. The truth is that all of us who are involved in hospice and palliative care are always working hard to improve the quality of life of our patients and caregivers. So, we are constantly helping patients and caregivers live well and finding meaning in their lives, however short their life is. Once someone understands this, his or her mindset changes very quickly. What are the key challenges for the hospice and palliative care sector? The key challenge has always been and will continue to be so in the foreseeable future recruiting and retaining good staff for both clinical and support functions in the sector. Any plans for HCA to start up in-patient hospice care? HCA s focus has been on Home Hospice and Day Hospice Services and it remains so at the moment. We do not have any plans for starting an in-patient hospice service for now. But, if there a need or opportunity in the future, we will definitely consider that. Hospice Link 17

18 Drawing Inspiration from Around the World... continued from page 5 Source: comprising invite cards, recipes, coffee, tea and a poster was sent out to every person who registered on their website to host a morning or afternoon tea, or get-together for friends, family and colleagues, who would then be asked to donate to Mercy Hospice Auckland. In Africa, the hospice model is Hospice Africa Uganda, which recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. It started in 1993 offering services to cancer patients, but soon extended to people living with HIV/AIDS in Today, Hospice Africa Uganda is one of the few accredited institutions in Uganda and sub-saharan Africa to provide and build capacity for pain and 18 Hospice Link symptom management, and end-of-life care through service, training, research and networking. Visit them at Much closer to home which some people may view as morbid, quirky, or even downright cheeky is ObitCheery a website that s meant to de-stigmatise death, through creating more creative obituaries and memoriams. This is yet another radical philanthropy initiative of the Lien Foundation as part of its Life Before Death mission, first started in 2006 to advocate better care for the dying. Some of its other novel ideas to challenge social norms have included Happy Coffins and Last Outfits. Check out Let me conclude this round-up by sharing with you a very moving 20-minute video called After Cicely, produced by the Lien Foundation some time ago, which profiled five Asian women and what they do to help patients in pain. I encourage you to watch it view a dynamic Mongolian medical professor trained in St Petersburg, Russia go about with verve and energy as she advocates palliative care in Mongolia; a Taiwanese nursing professional who trained under Cicely Saunders and is now making a difference in her country; the empathy of the head of infectious diseases as she cares for HIV patients in Haiphong, Vietnam; a woman who lost her young son many years ago now runs a facility for very sick children in Bangladesh, and right here in Singapore, Sister Geraldine of St Joseph s Hospice who reminds us that palliative care is not just about doing, but about connecting with patients through simple tasks. Visit In this issue of Hospice Link my last as editor may I wish you a good journey ahead as we join hands to do all that we can to ensure our loved ones, and one day even we ourselves live well before dying.

19 Garden of Faith By Community Engagement Team, Bright Vision Hospital B right Vision Hospital s (BVH) palliative patients are blossoming with joy with their new-found gardening pastime. The hospital s occupational therapist Ms Cai Kaining, with several other therapists wanted to bring patients closer to nature through gardening activities. And so in March, the Garden of Faith was started it is so called because it is situated outside the Faith ward at level three. The garden which features 10 species of plants are tenderly cared for by patients who spend half an hour to one hour each day putting in new seedlings, pruning and watering the plants. It is good therapy for them as they relax and chit chat with one another while doing something they enjoy. The different hues and colours of the flowers in full bloom and the butterflies which are attracted to the garden by the flowers have certainly brightened up the lives of the patients. Even those who have no interest in gardening are just happy to admire the flowers. About Bright Vision Hospital BVH s in-patient palliative care service is one of several multi-disciplinary services set within a 318-bed community hospital supported by the Ministry of Health, with referrals from tertiary hospitals. The service provides in-depth assessment and management of patients with advanced terminal illnesses. They are supported by a team of trained therapists and caregivers. Voices for Hospices Charity Concert 2013 Saturday, 12 October pm Singapore Polytechnic Convention Centre A global musical event which coincides with World Hospice and Palliative Care Day celebrations, the Voices for Hospice Charity Concert is coming your way again very soon. All funds raised from this Concert goes towards the Singapore Hospice Council (SHC) to help with its community outreach and public education programmes to raise greater awareness of hospice and palliative care facilities and services in Singapore. Highlights 12-year-old singing sensation Miguel Antonio, who has performed with David Foster, legendary musician and songwriter Performances by medical undergraduates from the NUS-Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine Guest-of-Honour: Dr Amy Khor, Minister of State for Health How to obta in ti cket s? bl e for a * Tic kets are av aitilaon sm al l d on a * Em ai l se cretariargt@.sg si n ga pore h ospi ce.o 31 * Ca ll SHC a t re h ospi ce. * Visit w w w.si n gaorpo org.sg for m e in fo

20 A Night Respite Programme By May Wong Physiotherapist/Manager, St Joseph s Home & Hospice St Joseph s Home has started a pilot nursing-home-based night respite programme called Dusk to Dawn for people with dementia and their family caregivers. It is supported by the Lien Foundation. The programme operates from 7pm to 7am, from Monday to Friday, providing companionship and care for people with dementia who suffer from sundowning and other sleep problems associated with the disease. Sundowning is a phenomenon when people with dementia become agitated and confused at night, and are unable to sleep. The programme offers diverse social activities like table games, movie screenings, art classes and outings, as well as feel-good activities like massage and aromatherapy. Additionally, to help people with dementia remember their daily living skills, routines like grooming and simple food preparation will be incorporated into the programme. These activities allow them to spend their wakeful nights meaningfully and give them an outlet for their energies. Above all, the staff are encouraged to talk to the clients if they are so inclined or just to be there and connect with them. This night respite programme hopes to provide some relief for family members and in so doing enable these families to care for their loved ones at home instead of admitting them into a nursing home. About St Joseph s Home & Hospice The Hospice was started in 1985, as part of St Joseph s Home, under the Catholic Welfare Services and administered by the Canossian Sisters, staff and volunteers. It provides holistic care to all residents with advanced illnesses, with a peace-filled environment that values human dignity and sacredness of life. Hospice Link 20

21 Stir-fried shaved pumpkin By Sylvia Tan Volunteer Contributor I ve eaten pumpkin stewed, pureed, grilled and roasted but never stir-fried, thinly shaved, and with its skin, too! But I was served such an intriguing dish in Luang Prabang and never forgot it. So I worked out a recipe. Pumpkin shavings, easily obtained with a potato peeler, are merely stir-fried with garlic, seasoned with fish sauce, then served with fresh herbs, Chinese celery or perhaps Thai basil for a fragrant finish. protection against other diseases as well as some degenerative aspects of ageing. Furthermore, pumpkin is a complex carbohydrate source. It contains both carbohydrates and fibre, which can help prevent extreme fluctuations in blood sugar levels. This is especially important for people trying to control their sugar levels. Fibre also adds bulk, helping digestion, alleviating constipation and lowering cholesterol and helps you to feel full. And if you re wondering how one can eat that horny shell, it softens beautifully upon cooking. You get an unusual shaved vegetable, sweet and rich with flavour, with texture from the skin. But why should anyone bother? Well, the pumpkin is one of the most nutritious vegetables around. A gourd, the bright orange colour of its flesh is a dead giveaway to its rich supply of an important antioxidant, beta-carotene. This converts to vitamin A in the body. Studies have shown that a diet rich in beta-carotene may reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer and protects against heart disease. It also offers There are many varieties of pumpkin. I usually choose either the Japanese (mottled green and white skin) or the creamy beige butternut, which has an elongated bottle shape. Whichever, you want a pumpkin that is heavy for its size. The lighter ones are drier with a bigger cavity in the middle. Generally, stay away from large pumpkins the smaller ones are sweeter and juicier. To make it easier to cut into a pumpkin, just jab it with a knife once or twice to make cuts for the steam to escape, put the whole thing in the microwave and cook on High for about 3 minutes. You will find that it is much easier to cut and yes, to get shavings. SHAVED PUMPKIN STIR-FRY (For 4-6) Half a Japanese pumpkin (about 500g) 1 tsp. chopped garlic 1 tsp. fish sauce or to taste Black pepper to taste Handful of fresh herbs: Coriander, Thai basil and Chinese celery, chopped Optional: Chopped green chilli Method: Soften the pumpkin in the microwave using the method described above. Then using a sharp knife or a potato peeler, shave off thin slices from the gourd. Heat 1 tbsp. olive oil in a fry pan. When hot, soften the chopped garlic till fragrant but not browned. Add the pumpkin shavings and season with fish sauce. Toss, adding a little water if needed to soften the vegetable. It should take just five minutes or so. Just before serving, garnish with a selection of fresh herbs, chopped, and if liked, some green chilli. Sylvia Tan is probably Singapore s most prolific food writer with now, nine cookbooks to her name. They range from her breezy, readable accounts of her eating adventures collected in the Mad About Food series, to her books, Singapore Heritage Food and Modern Nonya, which explore her Singaporean and Peranakan culinary heritage, to compilations of recipes from her low-fat Asian cooking column, Eat to Live, first published in The Straits Times in the books, Eat to Live and Taste. Her latest book, Asian Larder, is an exploration of the bottled pastes, spices, dried foods and herbs found in an Asian kitchen. Aside from her column, Eat to Live in The Straits Times Mind Your Body health supplement, she also contributes recipes monthly to the Insing food and drink website. You can also follow her eating and cooking adventures on www. facebook.com/sylviatanmadaboutfood Before her full-time involvement in food writing, she was a newspaper journalist for more than 20 years. 21 Hospice Link

22 Awarded for Selfless Dedication By Contributing Writer HCA Hospice Care Working in healthcare is more than just doing a job and then collecting your salary at the end of each month. It is a vocation in which you come into the lives of people at their most vulnerable when they are sick. By your compassion, you can bring them comfort physically and emotionally even when there is no cure in sight. For Ms Ng Wan Ru, a nurse with HCA Hospice Care, her dedication and compassion for her patients have not gone unnoticed. She was nominated and is one of the recipients of the Healthcare Humanity Award The Award was originally the Courage Award, first given out in 2003 to healthcare workers in recognition of their courage and dedication in the fight against SARS. Formerly from the corporate sector, Ms Ng took the road less travelled when she joined the hospice care sector after serving in a cancer unit of a tertiary acute-care hospital for 10 years. This home hospice nurse dedicates herself to loving the dying unconditionally and has consistently proven herself to be an exceptional and effective palliative and hospice care professional. She is able to inspire her patients and give them a renewed sense of purpose to live out their last days in dignity. Ms Ng says: I m very honoured to be one of the winners for this year s Healthcare Humanity Awards. And I d like to thank my team for nominating me for such a prestigious award. Patients share with her their life stories, experiences and struggles. And all these have taught her to be more understanding, helped her become a better person and nurse, and provide the best possible care for her patients. She says: As a home hospice nurse, I have come to realise that two patients with the same diagnosis can be very different. For her, the challenge is being able to come to terms with our patients need to maintain personal dignity as they see it, for the life that they have left. About HCA Hospice Care Established in 1989, HCA Hospice Care is Singapore s largest home hospice provider. It also offers a day hospice programme for mobile patients who do not require roundthe-clock nursing care. Its multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses, medical social workers and counsellors make 37,000 home visits each year to support patients with lifelimiting illnesses and their families. Besides its headquarters at Jalan Tan Tock Seng, it has four satellite centres island-wide. Editorial Committee Christina Stanley Editor Michelle Tan Agape Methodist Hospice Joyce Ong Assisi Hospice Muhammad Azhar Bright Vision Hospital Lee Tien Sin Dover Park Hospice Emma Goh HCA Hospice Care Ethel Koh Khoo Teck Puat Hospital Gladys Ang Lien Centre for Palliative Care Syameen Koh Metta Hospice Care Nazlin Hazhar Singapore Cancer Society Tay Chiew Buay St Joseph s Home & Hospice Vanessa Yung Singapore Hospice Council Living before Leaving An Umbrella Body Representing All Organisations That Actively Provide Hospice & Palliative Care in Singapore SHC Secretariat 133 New Bridge Road, #04-06 Chinatown Point, Singapore Tel: secretariat@singaporehospice.org.sg MICA (P) 199/03/2013 The Newsletter of the Singapore Hospice Council Printed by A&D Printhub Pte Ltd Produced by SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd Contents are not to be quoted or reproduced without the permission of the Singapore Hospice Council.