Background
In Singapore, about 8,000 people are diagnosed with cancer yearly and it is estimated that only 25% receive palliative care through in-patient, home or day care services.

The rising prevalence of advanced progressive illnesses prompted the establishment of the Metta Hospice Care in June 2000 to offer free home hospice services to the terminally ill of all ages, races and religions. Since then, we have reached out to over 540 patients.

Programmes & Services
Funded in part by the MOH and NCSS, our services are delivered through an inter-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, spiritual advisors and a social worker cum counsellor.

A member of the Singapore Hospice Council and Asia Pacific Hospice Network, we take care of patients who are referred from medical institutions and general practitioners.

Diagnosed with advanced progressive illnesses that result in prognoses of a year or less to live, these patients have primarily stopped seeking curative treatment as medical intervention can no longer arrest their deterioration process.

Palliative Care
By rendering a holistic range of medical, nursing, social, emotional and spiritual support, we ensure that the patients undergo a smooth transition from acute care in hospitals to home care that is clean, safe and convenient.

Above all, we strive to help them lead painless and dignified lives till their final moment.

In addition to a combination of medication, counselling and therapies, our medical personnel work with the patients’ primary physicians to achieve total care management.

Concomitantly, measures like teaching caregivers basic nursing procedures and free equipment loans help to ensure the continuity of effective home care in between visits.

Support Services
Believing that emotional and spiritual pain are as veritable as physical afflictions, we offer counselling services and spiritual support for both the patients and their families to help them cope with issues pertaining to grief, demise and bereavement.

At the same time, spiritual advisors from various faiths are available to help them connect to their religions or draw strength from personal values.

Additional care services as well as assistance in subsidy applications can also be arranged through our links with medical institutions and social assistance providers.

Benefits
Our mode of care enables the patients to spend quality time with their loved ones amidst familiar surroundings. Highly accessible, our services allow families and caregivers to become active partners in the caring process without having to abandon other pursuits.

With the exception of medication fees, no other charges are incurred. This alleviates their financial toll, which can be exacerbated by their loss of income.