Good to know: Things to know about palliative care at Bethesda Hospital

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines palliative care as follows:

Palliative care is an approach to improving the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with a life-threatening illness. This is done by preventing and alleviating suffering through early recognition, careful assessment and treatment of pain and other problems of a physical, psychosocial and spiritual nature.

Palliative care:

• provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
• affirms life and recognises dying as a normal process
• does not seek to hasten or delay death
• integrates psychological and spiritual aspects of care
• provides support to help patients live as actively as possible until death
• offers support to family members during the patient's illness and during the grieving period
• is based on a team approach to meet the needs of patients and their families, including through counselling during the bereavement period if necessary
• promotes quality of life and may also have a positive influence on the course of the disease
• is used early in the course of the disease, also in conjunction with other therapies aimed at prolonging life, such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and includes investigations that are necessary to better understand and treat stressful complications.

People are admitted who

• suffer from an advanced illness and have a limited life expectancy
• suffer from pain or other symptoms that are difficult to control
• are dependent on the implementation of special care measures
• Need support with psychosocial or spiritual problems
• are informed about and agree to the treatment options and the time frame of the stay.

Your family doctor or hospital doctor can refer you to the Bethesda Hospital Palliative Care Centre, but the initial contact can also be made by the patient and their relatives.

On the day of admission, please register yourself or your companion at reception at the agreed time. A carer will meet you there, accompany you to your room and inform you of all the important details. If anything is unclear, you can ask. We will be happy to help you.

Please bring your health insurance card with you and hand it in at reception.
It is also helpful if you bring the following documents with you (if available):

• Living will
• Blood group identification card
• List of medication currently required
• Control booklets (e.g. anticoagulant card, diabetic card)
• X-ray and ultrasound images, computer tomographies
• Hospital referral from your doctor
• Health passports (e.g. allergy pass)
• Special passes (e.g. Port-a-Cath)

Please bring the medication or therapeutic aids prescribed by your doctor with you. We will provide you with these later.

In our palliative care centre you wear the clothes you want. Remember to bring practical and comfortable clothing with you:

• Underwear
• Socks, knee socks or tights
• Pyjamas or nightgown
• Trainers, house suit or bathrobe
• House and street shoes
• Soap, shower gel, shampoo, care products of your choice
• Toothbrush, toothpaste
• Men: shaving foam and razor

Laundry can be cleaned by our housekeeping service according to the price list.

Saying goodbye to a beloved pet can be painful - especially in difficult phases of life. At the Bethesda Hospital Palliative Care Centre, we want to make this separation easier for our patients and their families. Through our pet visiting scheme, animal companions can help to provide comfort and joy of life.

Read more about this here

Personal mail will be brought to your room.

The path through grief is often not easy. It takes time, patience and sometimes the courage to accept support. But it is important in order to come to terms with the loss and give it a place in life. We support those close and dear to you in this process.

Further information