Sparsh Hospice - For Terminally Ill Cancer Patients, Hyderadad

Abstract

A hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, and have no cure options left. Death is inevitable, yet remains a neglected issue in modern healthcare. In patients with terminal cancer this final journey can be difficult and exhausting, making each passing day an ordeal. One of their greatest fears is dying alone in sterile, impersonal surroundings. Most of these patients don’t want to be hooked up to tubes and cut off from family, friends, loved ones and things that are familiar. They would prefer, if possible, to spend their final phase of life as pain free and alert as possible, surrounded by the family, friends and things they love. A hospice focuses on caring, not curing. When a patient’s medical team determines that the disease can no longer be controlled/ cured, medical testing and treatment stops. But the patient care continues. This care focuses on making the patient comfortable. The patient receives medications and treatments to control pain and other symptoms such as constipation, nausea and shortness of breath. Hospice care also provides counselling and mental strength to face the inevitable end. Sparsh is currently functioning in a rented premise, with limited bed strength and with the lease expiring shortly. Finding an alternate accommodation and customizing it is the Herculean task at hand. The new facility will be designed to suit the needs of these vulnerable ‘end of life’ patients and provide all conveniences to make their stay pleasant, comfortable, aesthetic and soothing. The aim of the design will remain to foster a feeling of comfort, contentment, companionship and the best possible health management. Moreover, the typology requires adjustments according to Indian culture to accommodate varying family dynamics and religious beliefs. The attempt will remain to create a ‘Home’ for the suffering and minimize the suffering and accentuate the experience of Living.