PGI to celebrate Palliative Care Day on October 12

The Department of Radiotherapy,PGIMER will be celebrating the day on October 12 at the Chandigarh Hospice. As the theme this year is ‘Palliative Care for the Ageing Population’,the inmates of the Old Age Home from Sector 15 have been invited to the hospice in Sector 43 to give them a day out and some entertainment.

Last year,682 new patients and 2500 follow-up patients were seen in the outpatient Palliative Care Clinic in the Department of Radiotherapy,PGIMER,Chandigarh. 93 patients were supported by the home care team and 474 patients were admitted to the Chandigarh Hospice for symptom management and supportive care.

Palliative care offers a holistic approach of physical,emotional,social and spiritual care not only to the patient but also to their families and caregivers through team work,education and empowerment.

The Palliative Care Clinic of PGIMER since 1998 has been of tremendous help to terminally ill patients who do not have to wait for their turn in a busy outpatient department. Since February 2000,a free home care service has been started for patients in Chandigarh,Mohali and Panchkula who are too sick to attend the hospital. For the patients who cannot be managed at home and who need specialized institutional care to control their symptoms,Chandigarh Hospice was started in Jan 2003 as a free indoor service for terminally ill patients. The hospice combines hospital care with the leisurely hospitality and warmth of the home.

As life expectancy increases,there is an increase in the number of elderly people who need care and support. The housing data from Census 2011 also shows that the number of persons per household has come down substantially.

The elderly thus require support even for their day to day work. In case of medical problems the caregiver too needs support as they find it difficult to cope alone.

Palliative care is therefore of growing public health importance,as it is a form of treatment that emphasizes comfort care but does not require the person to have a terminal condition.