Our Palliative Care Team, Oncology Nurse makes sure the patient is always comfortable, happy, and attended to, whenever needed.
What is Palliative/ Hospice Care?
Integrating Holistic Care with Compassion, Dignity & Respect
Palliative/ Hospice Care is a holistic approach that aims to improve the quality of life of patients facing various challenges associated with life-threatening illnesses such as cancer.
This approach emphasizes the quality of life of cancer patients by helping them live as comfortably as possible with the illness. Our Palliative Care Team focuses on identifying these needs as early as possible by managing the physical pain together with any related social, psychological, and spiritual issues faced by patients.
It is our mission to serve all cancer patients who are in need of palliative care with love, humility, compassion, and respect by enhancing and preserving the dignity of all beings right through to the end of life.
We are currently re-evaluating our finance assistance program where the current program could be subjected to change for the better in support of patients with treatment-cost difficulties.
How can someone be admitted as a palliative or hospice patient?
Referral Letter from Your Doctor
Patients can gain admission as palliative or hospice patients by way of a referral from their physician or our consulting medical professional.
Schedule a Consultation
Alternatively, patients also have the option to schedule an appointment with our doctor for consultation and subsequent admission to our palliative/ hospice ward.
Can I apply for the Mount Miriam Cancer Welfare Fund for Palliative/ Hospice care?
Yes, our Mount Miriam Cancer Welfare Fund is available to support Palliative/ Hospice care. We strongly advise patients to prepare these documents and bring them during the first visit.
- Photocopy of MyKad of patient and family members whose name is in the application form.
- Two months’ payslips of the patient and immediate family members who are working.
- The latest EPF statement (original copy) of the patient and immediate family who are working.
- Two months electricity bills.
- Photocopy of patient’s insurance policy (if any).
- Photocopy of MyKad of the referee – a person who certifies that the patient has financial difficulties and is unable to settle the medical charges in full.
What is the estimated cost and deposit required for Palliative/ Hospice care?
Room (Single or Open Ward) and board (6 meals) including Doctor’s Consultation is RM195.00 – RM285.00 per day (depending on the type of ward and the standard medications required).
It does not include charges for medical supplies and medication based on individual requirements.
An RM1500.00 deposit will be collected upon admission and will be refunded after the approval of the Welfare Fund application.
(We are currently re-evaluating our finance assistance program where the current program could be subjected to change for the better in support of patients with treatment-cost difficulties.)
A clean room with a comfortable and peaceful environment to ensure the best possible quality of life for patients.
Our Clinical Pastoral Carer providing emotional and social support to patient.
Additional information about Palliative/ Hospice Care:
How does Palliative Care help?
Our main objective would be to provide comfort by addressing and relieving the physical symptoms related to advanced and progressive life-threatening cancer conditions.
Holistic care provides support to patients and family members facing social, psychological, and spiritual issues as they go through such difficult situations. Our team will be able to prevent or minimize such pain with early identification, impeccable assessment, and prompt intervention of the issues.
It is important to promote understanding and respect towards patients at the end of life and to prevent unnecessary and futile interventions in order to allow a dignified end-of-life journey.
What issues are addressed in Palliative Care?
The effects of cancer vary from person to person. The total pain faced by a patient is made up of physical, psychological, spiritual, and social.
Physical – Cancer patients may experience physical symptoms such as pain, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, shortness of breath, and insomnia. Early identification of the issues and prompt intervention can help to relieve these issues to improve the quality of life of patients.
Psychological – Being diagnosed as a cancer patient may be a stressful journey. Depression, anxiety, and fear are the few common psychological issues faced by patients and family members. Emotional support is provided to help patients and family members go through this predicament with a positive and peaceful mind.
Spiritual – With a cancer diagnosis, patients and families often look more deeply for meaning in their lives. Fear of the unknown may bring patients closer to their faith or spiritual beliefs, whereas others might struggle to understand why cancer happened to them. Our trained Palliative Care Team is equipped to help patients in this journey to find a sense of peace and reach a point of acceptance that is appropriate for their situation.
Social – Cancer also substantially changes patients’ daily lives. Consequently, patients often face problems in various aspects of social life, such as family life, relationships with people around them, work, income, and leisure activities. Patients might suffer from low self-esteem, and depression and eventually withdraw themselves from their social circle. We recognize the need for support in these areas to maintain a good quality of life for cancer patients.
Who would benefit from Palliative Care?
Ensuring peace of mind that your love one is comfortable and well-taken care of by us
Being a forefront cancer hospital in Malaysia, we at Mount Miriam Cancer Hospital understand the importance of Palliative Care to cancer patients and their family members.
Palliative Care enhances the opportunity for patients and families to achieve a sense of growth, resolve differences, and find a comfortable closure. It helps to reduce the suffering and fear associated with dying and prepares the family for bereavement.
Family members can have peace of mind that their love one is being cared for by our team.
When should Palliative Care be introduced?
At any point in a patient’s cancer journey, from diagnosis to the end of life.
It is crucial that Palliative Care be introduced once the patient has been diagnosed with the disease and it should go hand in hand while curative treatments are being carried out.
Traditionally, doctors will only start Palliative Care towards the final stages of a patient’s life. However, Palliative care works best when you start it as soon as you need it during the treatment process. People who receive Palliative Care along with treatment for cancer often have less severe symptoms, a better quality of life and are more satisfied with the treatment.
Who is in our Palliative Care Team?
Our Palliative Care Team consists of a professional team of Consultant Clinical Oncologists, Palliative Doctors, Medical Officers, Oncology Nurses, and Pastoral Carers working together to manage the care and uphold the best possible quality of life for the patients.