Introduction

1. What are your names and roles?

• Sr Joey Smit – Project Manager
• Chrissie Vries – Staff Nurse & Nursing Co-ordinator
• Rachel Mgijima – Data & Financial Officer
• Atalia Kasper – Staff Nurse &TB Co-ordinator
• Daniel Soetmelk – Project Co-ordinator

2. Which hospice do you work for?

Renosterbrg Gemeenskap Projek

3. How long have you been there?

Most of our staff have been with us for nearly 10 years

In depth:

1. Why did you decide to focus on palliative care?

To help people who are in different situations, who don’t understand their sickness, to change their mentality about their sickness so that they can understand what is happening to him/her and understand the focuses of their sickness. Palliative care is unique – it’s a foundation to build a relationship with patients in the household and family.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?

A positive outcome of the situation / sickness towards hope and a knowledge of the diagnosis.

3. What do you find the most challenging?

When people become negative, they do not want to co-operate with their situation. Enmeshed families, lack of funds and patient’s wrong interpretation of the diagnosis.

4. What do you think people find the most challenging about a life-threatening diagnosis?

They become afraid because they know they will die, which makes them anxious. Fear or knowledge of death makes them uncertain of tomorrow.

5. What do you think that you personally bring to your job that reflects who you are as a person?

I bring myself and offer myself to somebody who needs me. I supply compassion, support and share daily from house to house. Actions speak louder than words. Trust, loyal and honesty has no end in our services – “You matter until you die”.

6. How do you take care of your own health and balance?

To take care of myself – care for the carer, we as a team ventilate our weekly / daily support and services. Yes, we could have more balanced health in our lives but we neglect ourselves!!!

7. What is your advice to anyone else wishing to join your profession?

My advice to you is that if you not passionate about what you doing, you are at the wrong place. Stop and do what you are busy doing- caring for sick people.

8. What is your advice to anyone given a life-threatening diagnosis?

• Know your diagnosis.
• Never stop asking questions.
• Disclose to loved ones as soon as you can.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones who are given a life-threating diagnosis?

Never judge, listen with your heart. Empathy must be your start for any conversation! Unconditional love.

10. How do your loved ones feel about the work that you do?

They support me if I come and tell them that the sick one is cured or better or if his sick situation has changed for the better. Family support is our foundation. They are involved.

11. What do you like the most about the hospice that you work with?

They support people very much, they are available if somebody needs them. RGP is a trustworthy organization for more than 10yrs. They practice what they preach. There is no end to care.

12. Do you have a “motto” that you tend to live by that you would like to share?

Be there if somebody needs you. Be an ear to someone.