Karunashrya, a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients, observes its tenth anniversary today
Karunashrya, a hospice for terminally ill cancer patients, observes its tenth anniversary today
Overlooking the fact that life is not going to support you for long and gathering the strength to smile and be happy is in itself a great achievement. I witnessed this at Karunashraya, the cancer hospice.
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Through laughter & tears: One of the inmates of Karunashraya enjoys the outdoorsu00a0 |
Situated on Airport Road, Karunashraya is an oasis of calm. The caregivers are compassionate and caring towards the terminally ill cancer patients who come here to spend their final moments in peace and prayer.
Karunashraya was set up in 1994 by the Indian Cancer Society (ICS), Karnataka and the Rotary Club of Bangalore, Indiranagar (RCBI).
Palliative care
Patients are given symptom and pain control medicines, special nursing care, specific palliative care, and psychological and emotional support through trained doctors, nurses and counsellors.
"When cancer reaches the incurable stage, and the doctor says, 'This is all I can do' to the patient, that's where Karunashraya steps in," says Dr Sadanand Gopal, medical superintendent, Karunashraya.
"We don't know how long any of our patients might live, and so we make their last days as comfortable as possible. In fact if they ask for something to eat that the kitchen cannot prepare, we go out and buy it for them. It is important as that might just be their last meal," he adds.
Dignity in death
The doctors who visit Karunshraya offer voluntary services. Volunteers from Karunashraya visit slums in the city and offer services to cancer patients like nursing care and counselling. The terminally ill are brought tou00a0 Karunashraya, and their families are offered help to fight anxiety and depression.
The hospice also takes care of the last rites of patients who have been abandoned by their families.
Cecily Saunders, the patron of the Bangalore Hospice Trust and pioneer of the Modern Hospice Movement, says, "Every individual matters up to the last moment of life, and we will do all we can, not only to help people die peacefully, but also to live in peace."
Where: Karunashraya, Airport- Varthur Main Rd, Kundalahalli Gate, Marathahalli
Ph: 2847 6133
