SERVICES FOR THE TERMINALLY-ILL – FIRST Hand
Friends in Reaching and Serving the Terminally Ill
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Befriending and Outreach Program
In the area of social health care, CHCSA volunteers have provided befriending services weekly to 97 HIV/Aids patients from Tan Tock Seng hospital in 2008.
All of our volunteers have undergone mandatory training at the Communicable Disease Centre in order to be equipped to provide proper care for the patients they serve each month.
FIRST Hand also conducts home and ward visitations as well as free grocery delivery for needy patients.
Beyond the practical help level, we also aim to create a positive environment of love and friendship through regular |
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contact with the patients, and in the process, instil hope and meaning back into their lives.
In 2005, in recognition of the basic human need for touch, we introduced Touch and Aroma Therapy into our ward visitations. During these visits, our trained volunteers hold the patients’ hands, or give them gentle shoulder, back or foot massages.
With the use of essential oils and scents, tensed muscles and emotions are soothed and comforted. More importantly, our clients are given the assurance that they are cared for and accepted regardless of their condition. |
Candlelight Memorial
On an annual basis, FIRST Hand also works with community partners on the Candlelight Memorial held in remembrance of patients who have passed on.
This event gives caregivers and loved ones a chance to share their memories, find social support, and be given time to grieve.
SERVICES FOR THE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS PATIENTS – MS Care
Touching the Multiple Sclerosis Community
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MS Care is a service dedicated to supporting people living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS)—a disease that affects the central nervous system.
It has been medically proven that MS can affect young people and even those who are in the pink of health. For many suffering from MS, it is a constant struggle to maintain a normal, active life.
With each relapse, their health deteriorates and they eventually lose the use of their muscles, speech and motor coordination skills.
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MS Patient Support Services
MS Care seeks to care for those suffering from MS and help them to achieve a better quality of life, providing moral support and a listening ear.
A 24-hour hotline was set up to bridge the gap between MS Care and its members.
MS Care also organised recreational activities and befriending programmes so patients can befriend others suffering from the same condition. This provides an opportunity for them to build meaningful relationships and achieve a sense of acceptance and self-worth. In 2008, MS Care served 76 patients and their family members.
MS Assistance Fund*
This is a partnership programme between CHCSA’s MS Care Group and National University Hospital’s (NUH) NUH Patientcare Charity Fund. MS Assistance Fund is available for all needy patients (in the various medical institutions) diagnosed with MS who face financial difficulties to purchasing their prescribed MS pharmaceuticals.
* For more information on funding, contact your physician at your hospital. Terms and conditions apply.
