OFFERING A BETTER SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS.
Do you know that cancer patients can live a life free of so much pain and suffering? We all have needs but some worries are common to terminally ill patients. Some concerns that they may have include the fear of abandonment and fear of being a burden. These terminally ill patients also have concerns about loss of dignity and loss of control in their life. A terminal illness like cancer has physical, social, emotional and financial concerns for the patient and family members. One in three cancer patients experiences severe psychological discomfort at any given moment, and over 50% of all cancer patients experience a persistent psychiatric consequence. Between 10% and 58% of cancer patients are reported to have depression. Untreated depression can make it more difficult to follow cancer treatment regimens, lower quality of life, and increase thoughts of death. Since many of the neurovegetative symptoms of depression (such as anorexia, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and poor concentration) are similar to those of cancer, an evaluation should concentrate on the patient's lack of interest in daily activities and their feelings of worthlessness, doom, and guilt. This emphasizes the need for holistic care to meet the patient's needs, psychosocially during the end of life.

How do we solve the problem?
Many individuals think that receiving hospice care should only happen in the final days or weeks of life. However, Medicare claims that it can be used up to six months in advance of the expected death. And those who have lost loved ones say that they wish they had called in hospice care sooner. According to research, people who use hospice care report having a higher quality of life than people who don't. Medical care, counselling, and respite care are just a few of the important services provided by hospice care. People typically become qualified for hospice care when their doctor signs a statement saying that patients with their type and stage of disease, on average, aren’t likely to survive beyond 6 months.

Meet Nyeri Hospice
Nyeri Hospice is a charitable organization that cares for terminally ill patients around Mt. Kenya region in Kenya. The hospice is located in Nyeri County and was started in 1995. The aim of Hospice is to give palliative care and comfort to cancer, aged and NCDS patients during their time of illness. We offer them comfort by relief of pain and other symptoms, and treatment of opportunistic infections. The other aim is to fight stigma so that the patients can be accepted by their families and the community. To respond to the needs of the patients and family members the following services were developed.

What services do we render?

• Day care program - Patient and family counselling services are offered to enable them to cope with the challenges resulting from the disease.
• Home Visit - The hospice team has addressed the missing link for the bedridden and too-sick patients being cut off from total health care. The team visits three patients per day.
• Family conferences - are also held, and social linkages are established as necessary.
• Nutrition - Lack of proper nutrition is evident. The hospice team usually appeals to well-wishers to support starving families among their patients.
• Paralegal care – To respond to legal and human rights needs
• Inpatient – to admit patients in need of palliative care

What are the benefits of our services?
There are so many people in the community who are cut off from mainstream medical care and need hospice services. This project of home base care will reduce the burden of admission in hospital hence reduce the financial burden. The psychosocial gap is fulfilled through family conferences. Enhance therapeutic relationship between community and health workers. More patients will receive care at their comfort. Hospice service will be expanded to the less fortunate in the community.

Risks & Challenges

• Funds: Cancer treatment and care are cost-demanding. Costs associated with cancer are highest in the initial period following diagnosis and, among patients who die of their disease, at the end of life.
• Stigma: Patients may perceive that discussing death and dying issues with their oncologists may signal weakness, failure, or a character flaw. Hence, they may feel stigmatized in society.
• Poor infrastructures: Some areas have poor healthcare infrastructure that translates to poor care of the patient.

Plan to resolve
We intend to create awareness in the community that addresses the importance of a hospice in the management of terminally ill patients. We also want to empower the community and build strong communication structures.

How do you come into the picture?
This project will only come into reality with your support. This means that we'll need your financial support. This project has the potential of helping not just our loved ones but also people that stay far and wide. There is no hindrance of distance in ensuring that people live their lives with purpose.

It is with great pleasure that we humbly request your support to help save lives and help humanity. Though risks and challenges can come up, we promise to be transparent and take you through the journey. With your kind donation, you can become an agent of change in seeing that cancer patients during the end of their life feel less pain, are comforted and are encouraged by the quality of life that they receive.

With as little as you donate, thousands of lives will be changed and transformed by this project. You can become a part of this.

Thank you for your kind donation.