What Is Hospice Care?
Hospice care is about recognising when the priorities of care have changed.
For some people with advanced cancer, there may come a time when active treatment of the cancer is no longer the main focus. Care then shifts towards helping the person remain as comfortable as possible and supporting what matters most to them during this stage of life.
Care does not stop when the active treatment stops. Rather, the focus of care changes.
Hospice care places greater emphasis on relieving discomfort, maintaining dignity, supporting quality of life and caring for the patient as a whole person.
It also recognises that serious illness affects not only the patient, but their family, caregivers and those closest to them.
Comfort, Dignity and Compassionate Care
Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital provides fully-funded inpatient hospice care in Penang specifically for cancer patients, helping patients and families receive the care and support they need without the added burden of hospice care costs.
Our hospice is dedicated specifically to people with cancer, with care centred on the needs that may arise as cancer progresses and the goals of treatment change.
Privacy for Every Patient
A hospice room is more than simply a place for clinical care. Every hospice patient at Mount Miriam is cared for in their own private room rather than a shared ward, giving patients greater privacy and allowing family members and loved ones to spend meaningful time together in a quieter and more personal environment.
The space allows for moments of conversation, companionship, reflection, prayer or simply being together according to the wishes of each patient and family.
Our aim is to provide an environment where each person can be cared for with comfort, dignity and respect.
Compassionate Care For All
Hospice care at Mount Miriam is not limited to patients who previously received their cancer treatment with us. We welcome cancer patients from different backgrounds, beliefs and circumstances. Our hospice care is provided with respect for the dignity and individuality of every person.
Cancer patients who have been cared for at another hospital or by another healthcare provider may also be referred to Mount Miriam for consideration.
Patients and family members may also contact our team directly for guidance on hospice admission.
What Does Hospice Care Include?
Relief From Pain
Comfort is an important part of hospice care.
Our clinical team works to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with advanced cancer, with care adjusted according to each patient’s condition and individual needs.
The aim is to help the patient remain as comfortable as possible throughout their time with us.
Emotional and Social Support
Living with advanced cancer can bring many difficult emotions. Patients may experience fear, sadness, anger, uncertainty or concerns about their family and the future.
Hospice care provides a supportive environment where these feelings can be acknowledged and where patients and families can receive compassionate emotional and social support.
Spiritual Care
Serious illness can sometimes bring questions about meaning, hope, faith, relationships, forgiveness or what matters most in life.
Mount Miriam’s Clinical Pastoral Care team is available to provide a ministry of presence, listening and spiritual support to patients and families who wish to receive it.
Spiritual care is offered with respect for each person’s individual beliefs, values and background.
Support for Families
Family members and caregivers may experience uncertainty, exhaustion, grief and difficult emotions as they accompany someone they love through this stage of life.
We believe that caring for the patient also means caring for the people who journey alongside them. Our team supports families and caregivers by providing guidance, a listening ear and a compassionate presence throughout the patient’s time in hospice.
Arranging Hospice Care at Mount Miriam
1. Referral Letter from Your Doctor
Patients can gain admission as hospice patients by way of a referral from their physician.
2. Schedule a Consultation
The patient’s condition and care needs will be reviewed to determine whether admission to hospice is appropriate. Where hospice care is suitable, our team will guide the patient and family through the admission process.
Looking for Hospice Care in Penang?
If you are caring for someone with advanced cancer and would like to understand whether hospice care at Mount Miriam may be appropriate, you are welcome to contact our team directly for information and guidance.
Our team can advise you on the information required and the next steps.
Telephone: +604 892 3808
WhatsApp: +6016 521 7054
Email: customerservice@mountmiriam.com
Hospice care is supported through donations to Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital, available for Malaysians seeking assistance.