Write an article about Bringing the light of Deepavali to patients in their twilight years .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from Festive seasons such as Deepavali are emotional times for hospice patients and their family members. (Kasih Hospice Foundation pic)
PETALING JAYA: Deepavali has rolled around once again, marking a time of light and devotion. Houses are decorated, festive treats are enjoyed, and joy and cheer are in abundance.
Sadly, not everyone is blessed with good health to celebrate the season. Patients in hospices and care centres often have special requirements or wants during the festivities.
For doctors and nurses, it is a bittersweet opportunity to bring the light of Deepavali to those in the twilight of their lives.
“All festive times are usually difficult and emotional for patients and family members, especially those who are dying and those who have recently lost their loved ones,” said Kasih Hospice Foundation senior doctor Vanitha Thangaratnam.
“In Indian culture, if an immediate family member has passed away, there is a mourning period of one year, during which there can be no celebrations. For those who are dying, we remind the family members to have a small celebration, take photos, and build memories.”
Kasih Hospice Foundation is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation that cares for patients with life-limiting illnesses. It receives referrals from hospitals for patients with non-curative conditions such as stage-4 cancer or end-stage renal failure without dialysis.
Dr T Vanitha.
The hospice’s medical team provides pain and symptom management to patients, regardless of their race or religion, until he or she passes away.
Vanitha, who has been working at Kasih Hospice Foundation for 16 years, often goes on leave for Deepavali. But before she or her fellow doctors go on their break, care is taken to ensure the patient’s pain and symptom control is maximised.
Her phone is always on standby, in case of emergencies.
For patients who intend to travel during the holidays, Vanitha and her team advise family members on how to prepare their medication. Letters for the nearest hospital are also prepared, in case patients become symptomatic and require further medical aid.
The hospice further provides relevant treatment equipment to patients who wish to return to their hometowns, and explanatory letters if they have to carry opioids across state borders.
Building bonds and treasured memories
Despite being on leave for the festivities, Kasih Hospice Foundation nurse Nithiya Viswalingham told FMT Lifestyle that many of the staff will still have their responsibilities on their minds.
“Sometimes it’s hard to be in a celebratory mood when you have a patient at the back of your head all the time. You wonder how he or she is doing; your mind is always on them,” she said.
According to nurse V Nithiya, most patients seek to be with their loved ones during festive seasons. (Kasih Hospice Foundation pic)
“And I’ve had patients who passed away while I was on leave. You can feel very emotional, because you have built bonds with them.”
According to her, most hospice patients do not focus too much on the trappings of the season, such as food or decorations; what they usually want is to spend time with their loved ones. Hospice workers try to facilitate these requests as much as possible.
She recalls an experience in 2022 involving an elderly gentleman under her care: Nithiya helped him carry out a Deepavali celebration with many of his loved ones in attendance.
“He was very happy. He kept saying, ‘Now I’ve seen everything, I don’t mind if I go.’ His condition deteriorated shortly after that, and he passed away in December,” Nithiya shared.
“I was sad, but I was also happy that he managed to have one final Deepavali celebration.”
V Nithiya.
Indeed, working in this job during the festive season can be challenging, but Nithiya and Vanitha take pride in being able to help others during this difficult time in their lives. And their experiences, they said, have encouraged them to build treasured memories with their own loved ones.
“It’s good to help patients and their family members during the festive season. We try to help illuminate their lives and provide them with some amount of joy,” Vanitha added.
“Life is uncertain and we must make the best of what we have. We need to be humble and forgive others. Here’s wishing everyone a life filled with love, light and laughter.”
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