Characteristics of palliative care ward

Charity Ha, Palliative Care Ward Manager of OLMH explains the difference between a palliative care ward and a non-palliative care ward.

1. Family room

Patients who are assessed to enter the last few days of life will be transferred to the family room, which can accommodate over 10 people. The room is furnished with an L-shaped sofa-bed, television and private washroom where the family can spend the last moments with the patient in a quiet environment.

2. Quiet room

The quiet room is an emotional sanctuary filled with aromatic scent, soothing music, religious books, and also a massage chair which can be used by patients and their families in need.

3. Palliative home care

There are three palliative home care nurses in OLMH, providing holistic support through paying home visits to patients and formulating treatment plans for patients according to their wishes. The home care nurses also discuss with patients and family about the journey ahead to put them at ease.

4. Monday flowers

Every Monday, hospital volunteers send a small flower bouquet to patients, filling the palliative care ward with calming floral fragrance.

5. Tuesday soup

There are palliative care out-patient clinics every Tuesday. Volunteers will prepare delicious and healthy soup for patients. On the day of HASLink’s visit, it was pork hock soup with green radish, carrot and sliced whelk. Patients found the soup tasty and felt loved.