Psychosocial
GuidanceTouching the Heart and Spirit
The Psychosocial Services team is dedicated to applying social work knowledge and skills competencies in palliative care to alleviate suffering and maximise the quality of life for patients and their families. The team includes an art therapist, a spiritual counsellor and medical social workers.
Besides managing social cases and providing individual and family counselling, the team actively collaborates with other agencies to provide holistic care and support to our beneficiaries.
The Gift of Legacy
Sharing stories of lived experiences and reliving cherished memories can have therapeutic effects. At the end of life, it is often the intangibles that bring the greatest comfort to those grappling with anticipatory grief and loss. The Family Dignity Intervention (FDI) project aims to provide patients with a legacy-building opportunity, and to enhance their sense of meaning, dignity and quality of life in the process.
The FDI project employs a narrative approach and includes elements of reminiscence, in which patients are gently prompted to share about their childhood and memorable incidents. Caregivers are an integral part of the process, and they are also given airtime to share their experiences.
Through the process of reminiscence, the project facilitates meaning-making, particularly for difficult or painful past experiences. At the end of the intervention, a legacy document is produced for the patient and family’s keepsake. For the son of late HCA patient Mdm Tay, the FDI booklet serves as a treasure trove of memories and wisdom they can share with other family members. The project also brought back poignant memories for Mdm Tay’s husband and prompted him to share about cherished experiences with his late wife.
11
FDI projects completed
in the last year
A Good Day
As the end draws near, it becomes ever more pressing to create more good days and to make each moment count. The “A Good Day” project delves into intimate moments and explores patients’ hopes, dreams and desires, in the last lap of life. For late HCA patient Mdm Annie Hoor, holding a final exhibition for her favourite artworks was her way of sharing her passion and leaving a legacy of hope for her loved ones.
Over several visits, HCA Art Therapist Kimo Ong quickly built rapport with Annie, who was happy to share the stories behind her paintings with a fellow art enthusiast. These conversations eventually culminated in Taking Flight, a month-long posthumous exhibition showcasing a selection of Annie’s favourite artworks, depicting travel adventures and the interesting birds she would encounter on her walks. Annie’s family also placed a pot of orchids at the exhibition, which was accompanied by a loving note on how proud they were of her.
Supporting Bereaved Families
Death ends a life, but it does not end a relationship. HCA continues to support bereaved families after the passing of their loved ones, through various initiatives, including bereavement counselling and remembrance and memorial services.
Launched in 2021, the HCA CARES (Connecting And Remembering Experiences with you) project aims to provide bereaved families with emotional support and to let them know that they are not alone in their journey of grief.
181
families received the Comfort Deck in the last year
92%
want the project extended to other bereaved families
Following the demise of their loved one, the HCA team reaches out with a condolence card, and subsequently, a series of cards – the ‘Comfort Deck’ – will be sent out, accompanied by a personal letter from a bereaved family member who has chosen to share their experience and words of comfort. A total of four sets are sent out over the course of a year.
These Comfort Decks comprise carefully curated quotes and messages, as well as tips and suggested activities that may be helpful to bereaved families as they journey along in their grief.
HCA also organises memorial services – Sunflower Remembrance Day and Star PALS Remembrance Day – for patients’ families, whose loved ones have passed on. This thoughtful ceremony allows bereaved families to come together as a community and pay tribute to their loved ones and also provides a platform to seek closure.
With ongoing pandemic-related restrictions, it was not feasible to plan for a physical memorial event. Yet, the HCA team felt it was ever more important to continue caring for the bereaved in difficult times of isolation and grief.
HCA held its first virtual memorial service in the second half of 2021. While it was not possible to replicate the warmth of physical touch, the thoughtful care packs and gentle words of solidarity shared during the virtual event, brought some measure of comfort.
119
families attended HCA’s memorial services
in the last year