Community End-of-life Care Service Provides Dignified Ending for Late-stage Patients

“Thank you very much for your unconditional support for my late father,” said Ms. Yip, when talking about the last days of her father’s life.

Grandpa Yip, who was suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was referred to the Society’s “Life Rainbow: End-of-Life Community Care Project” the previous year. The Project provides end-of-life and palliative care services for late-stage patients and their families to enable the patients to live a meaningful late-stage life with dignity.

People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease often experience symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. The Society thus provided symptom management training for Grandpa Yip so that he could observe and manage his symptoms and stay as healthy as possible. When his shortness of breath worsened, Ms. Ha, his caseworker, accompanied him and his family to rent an electric wheelchair, which enabled Grandpa Yip to move about on his own, so that he could maintain his social life and slow down the deterioration of body functions.

“I’m grateful that my father had the opportunity to benefit from the Society’s services,” said Ms. Yip. “My mother passed away after my father joined the project. As my family and I had to work, we could not be there for him all the time. Fortunately, the Society’s caseworkers helped him through that difficult time by comforting and supporting him. I’d like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Society for helping us on various matters, and I hope that more people can benefit from this service in the future.”

In Grandpa Yip’s final days, the Society’s caseworker reviewed his life with him and created a life book so that his children could learn more about him.