Introduction

1. What is your name?

Vivian Ntombekhaya Dyantyi

2. Which hospice do you work for?

St Bernard’s Hospice

3. What do you do there?

Caregiver

4. How long have you been there?

14 years.

In-depth: 

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

To take care of the dying patient.

2. What gives you the greatest fulfilment?

Working with people and helping them gives me the greatest fulfillment.

3. What do you find the most challenging?

During this time of the pandemic, families of the patient find it difficult to trust us with their loved ones.

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

The most challenging about a life threatening diagnosis is that families find it difficult to accept and they are always in fear, especially if the patient is admitted.

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

Positive attitude.

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

Eating healthy food and exercising.

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

I would advise to be confident and have passion, the main thing is to be love your job and be passionate.

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

I advise that the situation you are in, please accept it.

9. What is your advice to the loved ones of anyone who is given a life-threatening diagnosis?

I will advise them to give him/her support.

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

At first they were concerned but now they love it because they see how happy this makes me and how passionate I am about helping others in need.

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

It gave me an opportunity to do and excel in what I love, hospice has become my second home.

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

Take care of your health while you still can.