The Inter-Disciplinary Team (IDT) model is at the heart of effective hospice and palliative care, offering a holistic approach that addresses the multifaceted needs of patients and their loved ones.
At Helderberg Hospice this model is not merely a theoretical framework but a lived reality, seamlessly integrating medical, nursing, psycho-social, religious and spiritual care.
This comprehensive approach is particularly vital in the context of life-limiting illnesses, where patients’ challenges extend beyond physical symptoms and care encompasses emotional, psycho-social and existential dimensions.
The IDT at Helderberg Hospice comprises palliative care-trained doctors, nurses, social workers and volunteers, each bringing their expertise to the table. This collaborative approach ensures that care plans are comprehensive and tailored to the individual needs of each patient and always place the patient at the centre of the care pathway.
Doctors and nurses focus on symptom management, including pain control, and complex medical interventions in an effort to ensure that physical comfort is enhanced and maintained.
Social workers provide counselling, bereavement support, facilitate support groups and assist with practical matters, addressing both the emotional and psycho-social aspects of care.
Recognising the importance of the holistic well-being of our patients involves a broad range of skills for the patient and their loved ones.
The Helderberg Hospice team facilitates the support of religious and spiritual leaders to help patients and their families find peace, comfort and dignity during challenging times.
This integrated approach aligns with the standards set by the Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC), which emphasises the importance of interdisciplinary teams in providing holistic care.
Helderberg Hospice exemplifies the IDT model through its diverse services, including: Hospice and palliative home and community-based care, which is rovided by professional palliative nursing sisters who offer home visits, supported by social workers and volunteers, ensuring patients receive quality care in the comfort of their homes.
Helderberg Hospice’s home and community-based programme covers a geographical expanse of 370km² and around 310 000 people, extending from Macassar in the south to Gordon’s Bay in the north and everywhere in-between.
When patients require more acute care than is possible to provide in their own homes, they are admitted to the organisation’s In-Patient Support Centre.
The support centre serves as a transitional-care space, with beds for up to 10 patients. The facility is staffed by a team of palliative-trained nurses, enrolled nurse auxiliaries and housekeepers who provide 24-hour care, primarily serving as an intensive support for its home-care programme to prevent any acute hospitalisation.
The organisation’s Social Work Services are offered in both its in-patient and outpatient programmes, and are geared to address the emotional and practical challenges faced by patients and families, including counselling and bereavement services, support groups and assistance with practical matters such as grant applications.
Social workers also operate within an expansive-care pathway framework to ensure that, where necessary, patients are referred onwards for additional psycho-social support.
And for patients in need of a little extra support, Helderberg Hospice offers medical equipment loan and hire providing essential medical equipment such as wheelchairs, walkers, and commodes, to support a patient on their care journey.
Underpinning all clinical care is the palliative trained doctor. Throughout their care journey patients often remain in the care of their own general practitioner or specialist physician.
However, the hospice’s specialist palliative trained doctor remains on hand to support the entire care team, the patient and their loved ones by providing an additional layer of clinical expertise throughout a very complicated care journey.
This is particularly for those state-subsidised patients who would not otherwise have access to an inter-disciplinary team of this nature, ensuring their medical needs are met within the hospice- and palliative-care framework.
Helderberg Hospice is committed to community integration and support. This is evident through our extensive home and community-based care programme, which accounts for 90% of all care services.
By providing care directly to patients at home, hospice ensures individuals can remain in familiar surroundings with their loved ones while navigating the complexity of a life-threatening illness.
Moreover, the hospice’s collaboration with local organisations highlights our role in community education, advocacy and support.
Through training programmes and partnerships Helderberg Hospice extends its impact beyond direct patient care, fostering a community equipped to support those who face life-limiting illnesses.
To learn more about these and other programmes offered, or to enquire about hospice- and palliative-care services for yourself or a loved one, visit www.helderberghospice.org.za and follow Helderberg Hospice on social media.
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