Hospice

Abstract

Terminal care for cancer patients must be oriented to the dignity of human being. For this purpose our hospice has five principles, that is, to control physical pain, to relieve spiritual problems, to settle socio-economical matters, to give religious support and lighten family loads. To put into practice these five principles, various kinds of staff take their places as caregivers: physicians, nurses, helpers, chaplains, psychiatrists and voluntary workers. Moreover, the Hospice has many facilities such as a community hall, a kitchen for family members, guestrooms for family members and friends, a chapel for services and patient's rooms with one bed which make it possible for the patients to communicate intimately with family members or friends. During these 7 years, from April '81 to March '88, 398 terminally ill cancer patients have been treated at the Seirei Hospice. Through these experience, we have observed that most of terminally ill cancer patients do wish to live as long as possible in good condition without physical pain. So, we should conclusively emphasize that medical treatment including radiotherapy and cancer chemotherapy, attempting to reduce the physical distresses, ought to be continued until the time when the treatment might come to waste the patient's energy and only increase their agony.