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.
