Description
Terminally ill patients in advanced stages require specialized care - palliative care, which currently cannot be provided by the public health system and therefore is not accessible to all. As such, palliative home care services provided free of charge by Christian Foundation Diakonia represent a solution that should be extended to a larger number of beneficiaries. The project aims to develop and expand palliative care programs in 7 rural communities from Cluj County, while developing the Foundation's ability to serve a larger number of beneficiaries. Thus, among the results of the project are included the following: increasing the number of beneficiaries from 181 to 1220, the development of palliative care services from 1 to 8, upgrading the existing palliative home care service functioning in Cluj-Napoca by adding a new component - psycho-emotional counseling, the creation of 15 jobs for social and medical personnel, motivating the team, training doctors, nurses and volunteers in the field.
Summary of project results
The project was designed in the context of the current limitation of the public health system in Romania, which provides services only by the principle of curing. Thus, when curing is no longer possible, the patient is sent home and left in the charge of his family, based on the fact that nothing can be done. This is the case of all patients dying of cancer and of 2/3 of those who die by a disease – that is about 150000 people/year, in Romania. Currently, palliative care is only provided by the private sector and it is very expensive, since it requires the intervention of a multidisciplinary team: physician, nurse, caregiver, social worker, and psychologist. Thanks to the project, Diakonia Christian Foundation has succeeded in providing such services free of charge for the beneficiaries, reaching more than 1,200 persons. The Promoter has also extended the services in 7 rural communities in Cluj and Salaj Counties, increasing its providing capacity from 181 beneficiaries to 1,232 (out of which 50% come from rural areas). Services were expanded by setting up mobile multidisciplinary teams, by signing partnership agreements with local municipalities, by training 7 local doctors, 6 nurses and 5 caregivers, one psychologist and 2 social workers, by launching a volunteering programme and by opening a day centre care for terminally ill patients and their family members. The quality of services has been improved by: introducing a new component – psychological counselling for patients, family members and also employees that work in palliative care; purchasing medical equipment (electric beds, anti-bedsore mattress, sphygmomanometers, and medical bags) and sanitary materials. As a result, the quality of patients’ lives, as well as their families', has considerably improved. The pain was reduced, the suffering was relieved, and the patient’s dignity was assured until the time of death. Family members were informed, trained and helped to take care of the ill, supported to face their distress, and assisted during the mourning process.
Summary of bilateral results