In South Africa, with its high burden of illness, integrating palliative care compassionately, early and holistically is both an ethical imperative and a practical necessity.
At Faircape Health, we believe in the dignity of every individual that comes through our doors, facing serious, life-limiting illness. Palliative care is a compassionate, holistic approach that supports quality of life for patients, families and caregivers from the time of diagnosis of a serious illness through to end-of -life and beyond.
It is more than just care for the dying. It provides valuable relief to those that are suffering, helping them manage symptoms, and giving them the emotional and spiritual support to live as fully as possible with the time they have.
The Importance of Palliative Care in South Africa
Along with an ageing population, South Africa faces a high burden of life-limiting illnesses such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, cancer, and non-communicable diseases like hypertension and diabetes. These trends create growing demand for palliative care services.
The Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC) reports that during the 2021/2022 financial year, member organisations collectively served over 38,000 clients. In that same period, there were more than 340,000 patient care visits, and a total of 2.49 million interventions by care staff of APCC members. Among these clients, the predominant diagnoses were HIV/AIDS (37%), cancer (24%), chronic illness (18%), COVID-19 (18%), and tuberculosis (3%).
In terms of mortality, data from Statistics South Africa (2018) show that about 59% of deaths in the country are from conditions for which palliative care may be beneficial.
These numbers illustrate both the scale of need and the importance of ensuring palliative care is accessible, integrated, and delivered with sensitivity.
Palliative Care at Faircape
Palliative care is specialised medical care that focuses on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of a life-threatening illness, whatever the diagnosis. The goal is neither to hasten nor postpone death, but to ensure comfort, respect patient wishes, and support them and their loved ones.
Palliative care includes pain and symptom management to ease physical discomfort such as breathlessness, nausea, and fatigue, while also offering psychological and emotional support for challenges like anxiety, depression, and coping with illness.
It has a wide remit and extends to social support for families and caregivers too, helping with logistics and resources, as well as spiritual or existential care that addresses deeper questions and beliefs. Importantly, it also assists patients in planning their care, communicating their choices, and ensuring that their wishes are respected throughout their journey.
A Compassionate Approach
There is often confusion about what palliative care is, when it should start, and fears that it means giving up. Ensuring patients, families and clinicians are educated is crucial. Faircape’s truly compassionate palliative care approach means that we;
- Start Early: Palliative care begins at the point of diagnosis of a serious illness, not only when curative treatment options are exhausted.
- Focus on Patient-Centred Goals: Understanding whether symptom relief, autonomy, or being at home, matters most to the patient.
- Adopt Holistic Care: Addressing physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs.
- Support Families and Caregivers: They are an integral part of the journey, and often needing guidance, respite, and emotional care.
- Ensure Dignity: Even as disease progresses, preserving dignity, valuing personhood, respecting beliefs and wishes is paramount.
Four Things Patients and Families Can Do
While the healthcare team plays a major role, patients and families can also take proactive steps to make the most of palliative care.
- Ask about palliative care early. Sometimes it can be part of a treatment plan
- Be open about your pain, symptoms, fears, and hopes.
- Plan ahead: Try not to leave important conversations about wishes, advance directives, preferred settings of care to the last minute.
- Seek support: Don’t be afraid to ask for guidance and help from health care providers, spiritual counsellors, and community-based organisations. At Faircape Heath we have a team of social workers who provide invaluable support to patients and their families.
Palliative care is not about giving up. It is about enhancing quality of life, relieving suffering, and supporting patients and families at their most vulnerable. At Faircape Health, we are committed to walking this path with those we serve, ensuring dignity, comfort, compassion and hope always remain alive.
