- About Patient Care
- Admission Procedures
- Patient’s Testimonials
- Consultation Hours
Patient Care at Karunashraya
When there is no hope for a cure, care with dignity makes the difference.
To ensure that the care rendered is of highest standards, dedicated professionals of Karunashraya provides in-patient facilities and home-care services. Patient’s needs and preferences, along with the professional advice from our doctors decide in choosing the right option between the two... All efforts are made to alleviate pain and distress of the patients, through medical care which meets international standards. This is complemented with the emotional, spiritual and social support for patients and their families. By bringing in moral, psychological and logistic support for the family of each patient, we ensure the care a patient receives is a compassionate one. Guided by the medical professionals of Karunashraya, every aspect of our palliative care aims to add life to the days of each patient.
Admission Procedures
- Criteria for AdmissionPatient Care Plan
- ServicesDocuments Required for Admission
- Morphine AvailabilityCaregiver Support
- Discharge CriteriaPatient Transport
Criteria for Admission
At Karunashraya, free palliative care is provided to advanced-stage cancer patients, for whom there is no cure. By bringing together compassion and palliative care, we strive to make their lives pain-free and comfortable, as they spend their remaining days in the idyllic surroundings of the hospice.
For admission in Karunashraya, the patient must have:
- Reports confirming advanced stage of cancer.
- Certificate from treating doctor/ hospital confirming patient not on any active curative treatment.
- Confirmation from the caregiver on his/her responsibility towards patient care.
Patient Care Plan
Our patient care plan is holistic in nature. It brings together medical care, emotional and spiritual care, and a social support system for patients and their families. Apart from the alleviation of physical suffering, the patients are supported with counselling and various psychosocial methods to guide them through this extremely difficult time. Each patient’s care-plan also addresses the emotional and psychological needs of the family or caregivers.
Our care-plan Includes:
- Symptom Management
- Counselling
- Physiotherapy/ Mobilisation
- Diversion Therapy
- Family Counselling
- Empowerment of the family in taking care of the patient.
- Home care support for patients discharged from Karunashraya and those residing within Bangalore city limits
Services
In-Patient
If anything can help advanced-stage cancer patients to feel better, it would be the green, sprawling, beautiful and well-designed 73 bed in-patient facility at Karunashraya. Here, patients are admitted with the objective of alleviating pain and other distressing symptoms. Our team of Palliative Care professionals is trained to deal with the psychological and spiritual needs of the patients. The nursing staff is especially competent in handling their intensive minute-to-minute physical requirements. Together, they form a formidable support system that is difficult for patients’ families to provide in their homes during the last stages of Cancer. Thus with the care of Karunashraya’s well-trained and competent team of doctors, nurses, family counsellors, physiotherapists, volunteers and administrative staff, they begin to heal spiritually and to come to terms with their illness.
Home Care
Karunashraya has the distinction of being the first hospice in India to provide free home-care for terminally ill cancer patients. Since the launch of home care services in 1994, we have cared for more than 3000 patients, and have around 50+ patients under our care at any point in time. With our home care services being highly sought after, we have deployed multiple teams who travel through the city to provide home care services. Each home care team consists of multidisciplinary nurses, a physiotherapist, a health assistant and a social worker for giving palliative care including counselling and non-curative treatment. Our home care programme is a testimony to our flexible approach in palliative care, focused on the patient’s need for comfort.
OPD
Documents Required for Admission
- Relevant Medical reports confirming the diagnosis of cancer
- Reference Letter for admission
- A copy of Adhar card
- Caregiver is advised to bring all the medical reports during the time of inpatient/OPD/Daycare admission
- Admission slip if given
Morphine Availability
OPIOID is available only if the patient is seen by an In-house doctor for pain management. Strict WHO criteria (Pain Ladder) are followed. The patient has to be admitted for at least a day, for starting morphine or any other opioid.
Caregiver Support
Caregivers are as important to us as our patients. At Karunashraya, we offer specialized knowledge and support that can reduce anxiety in both the terminally ill patients and their families by helping them make the most of the time remaining and achieve some level of acceptance. Our caring team helps caregivers and families to deal with the complex and varied physical, emotional and practical consequences of their loved one’s illness. We work closely with them to make sure they get the much needed support.
Discharge Criteria
- Patient with good symptom control.
- Patient who wants to spend the last days at home.
- Discharge at request.
- Non-compliance with treatment.
- Patients/ Caretaker causing nuisance or trouble to staff or organization.
- Some patients need help after they leave the hospice. With proper planning and guidance to the caregiver, many patients can leave earlier and stay comfortably at home. All members of the health care team are responsible for helping with the discharge planning process.
Discharge Procedures
The medical team headed by the doctor will determine when a patient may be discharged. The discharge process is as follows: While discharge timing will vary from patient to patient, please be aware that it may occur as early as 10 AM, and we advise patients to make transportation arrangements accordingly. In addition, due to the nature of the process, the discharge time may be significantly later in the day and we appreciate the patient and family’s flexibility regarding scheduling transportation.
- On the day of discharge, patient or a family member should meet the doctors. Our office is open from 10:00 AM. to 5:00 PM. Monday through Friday. The doctor will issue a discharge slip.
- Before leaving, please be sure all instructions regarding medications or follow-up office visits are clearly understood.
- Please check all drawers, cabinets, and nightstands before leaving and make sure no belongings are left behind. The hospital will not be responsible for any personal property left behind. Also, remember to claim any valuables that were kept in the hospital safe by presenting the valuables receipt to the cashier.
- When you are ready to leave, hospital personnel will escort you to the exit.
- If someone is picking you up, they can park in the parking garage while assisting with your discharge.
- Please remember Discharge is part of the whole process of providing comfort and caring for the patient according to his/her needs.
- There is no discharge initiated on Sundays and Government holidays.
Patient Transport
Please note, that transportation will not be provided for patients. Kindly arrange your own transport and plan arrival to Karunashraya.
- Counselling
- Physiotherapy in Palliative Care involves
- Goals of Palliative at BHT
- Other Assisted Therapies
There are times in our lives when it is helpful to talk to someone about what is on our minds or what is troubling us. Sometimes you want someone who really understands where you are coming from and not just a friend with a sympathetic ear. Coming to a counselling session gives you time and space to talk about what is important to you. Spending time with a professional counsellor can help you to explore your feelings and express your thoughts and emotions in a safe and confidential environment.
- Individual Counselling
- Family Counselling
- Home-care Counselling
- Grief and Bereavement Counselling
- Psycho-Education
- Group Therapy
- Diversion – Art & Craft, Games, Movies, books
- Spiritual support
- Networking (NGOs)
- Rehabilitation
- Symptom Management
- Securing Independence
Physiotherapy Assessment
- Pain
- Swelling
- Muscle Power
- Mobility
Treatment Techniques and Goals
- Improving Quality of Life
- Reducing Pain
- Approaches to Improve Mobility
- Bed Mobility
- Ambulation
- Prevention and Reduction of Pressure Sore
- Hands-on Approaches to Reduce Pain
- Usage of Electrotherapeutic Modalities
- Use of Assistive Devices
Our palliative care aims to improve the quality of life from every angle. It includes the following goals:
- To keep pain to a minimum, using clinical methods.
- To treat symptoms and improve health where possible.
- To assist with mobility and safety.
- To allow meaningful interactions between patients and their friends, family and community.
- To improve spiritual and emotional well-being through counselling, art and pet therapy programs, and more.
- To allow both patients and caregivers to understand and express their feelings through these difficult times.
- To ensure patients and caregivers understand what is happening and make informed, well-thought-through choices.
- Music Therapy
- Pet Therapy
- Art and Craft
Testimonials
“Treatment at Karunashraya is very neat, helpful, patient, kind, polite. I have no words to say how much. Nuns and nursing care help patients to be mentally silent. Counselling helps patients to be mentally prepared for their treatment of cancer. The atmosphere is very nice. Totally we are satisfied with all their loving care. I hope they continue doing this good work.”
S. Shobha
Patient’s Family MemberPatient Testimonials
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