Not only cancer patients benefit from palliative care

Centurion Hospice is a registered NPO that specialises in palliative care located in Lyttelton Manor, Centurion.

It is run by a management committee that consists of Annette Reed (CEO), Marius Bester (operations manager), Annelize Greyling (palliative manager) and Susanne Mattes (financial officer).

“We are in the community for the community – that is our motto,” said Reed, who added that the hospice is a destination of choice.

The facility was established in 1997 when four philanthropists signed the first constitution with its main focus to provide a palliative in-patient facility, she said.

“Today, we offer a programme of specialised palliative care to patients with progressive, advanced, or incurable disease from diagnosis.

“Patients with life-limiting or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, advanced lung disease, cardiac and organ failure, multiple sclerosis, stroke, incurable wounds and even people with an advanced stage of dementia, will benefit from our services.

“The hospice also opened a 16-bed wing in October last year to facilitate advanced frail care,” said Reed.

She said there is, however, a public misconception that palliative care is for cancer patients only, which is a far cry from the truth.

“The programme is holistically designed so that we also embrace the patient’s family and loved ones in providing supportive social, clinical, and psychological services throughout the journey. That includes the bereavement period after the passing of the patient.

“Psychosocial care and bereavement support is another service we offer. The adjustment to living with a life-threatening diagnosis can be challenging, and at times lonely.”

Reed said the hospice has social workers and a spiritual team available to support the patient, and loved ones, in coming to acceptance of a diagnosis and to optimising every moment of life.

“Along with palliative care, we offer a third service as hospice care, and yet, there is a relationship between the two.

“Palliative care focuses on relieving symptoms that are related to chronic illnesses, such as cancer, cardiac disease, respiratory disease, kidney failure, Alzheimer’s and other dementias, AIDS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurological diseases.”

Hospice care is palliative by nature, said Reed. The illness, however, at this stage has progressed to a point where curative treatment is no longer desired or beneficial.

The hospice relies on donations, which has drastically dried up since the impact of Covid had been felt.

“We need sanitiser, masks, gloves, adult diapers, linen savers and medication for our welfare patients.

“We also need fresh produce, 25 blue T-shirts for staff uniforms, fuel and branding for our hospice vehicles. A gazebo with our logo will also be most welcome, as well as advertising space, tables and chairs for our restaurant and a stretch tent for funerals.”

Donations for the Legacy shop and bookshops are also very much appreciated, she said.

The hospice team is nonetheless constantly adjusting to change and challenges and remains committed to innovative ideas to raise much-needed funds.

They run a conference centre and cater for all kinds of events. There is a second-hand bookshop and a well-loved charity Legacy shop with a wide variety of articles for sale.

The restaurant is a huge favourite and boasts a new name after the previous management left in November last year.

Bester said ‘Memory Lane Café’ is what the restaurant previously known as ‘Strawberry Mousse” will be called henceforth.

“After the previous management left in November last year, we requested members of the public to suggest a new name for the restaurant.

“People voted online for the best suggestion, and the winner was treated to a family meal of R3 000.”

Bester said residents can still enjoy meals and buffets at the restaurant, and they still cater for private functions.

“We also continue with our monthly motivational evenings when we host specific speakers.”

Receptionist at the restaurant, Pulle Maake encouraged residents to visit and enjoy their meals.

Audrey and Luiz Palau from The Reeds said they were “regulars at the restaurant visiting it quite often”.

They were delighted that the hospice was keeping it open.

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