General

Assisi Hospice, an outreach service of Mount Alvernia Hospital, was established in 1969 by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood (FMDM) Catholic Sisters.

We dedicate ourselves to the care of adults and children with life limiting illnesses. In an environment of compassionate and holistic care, we understand the challenges faced by our patients. We are here for all, regardless of financial status, age, race & religion, respecting their faith, culture & values.

Vision
To be the Leader and Centre of Excellence for Compassionate and Personalised Palliative Care.

Mission
The Assisi Hospice is a Catholic Charity providing compassionate, personalised and quality Palliative Care to adults and children with life limiting illnesses through our Inpatient, Home and Day Care services.

Our Service Values

Service
We accept our positions as servants to those who are in need of our care by providing a healing experience, in an environment that is comfortable, welcoming and assuring.

Reverence for Life
We cherish life and respond to all beings with respect and compassion, by enhancing and preserving the dignity of all beings throughout life, and at its natural cessation in death.

Humility
We employ our skills, opportunities and talents humbly in the service of our fellow beings by improving ourselves as individuals and as a team to serve others better.

Joyfulness
We rejoice in life and all the experiences that each day brings by sharing joyfulness with our patients, their families, and anyone in touch with the Hospice.

Stewardship
We manage the resources and relationships that are entrusted upon us wisely, fairly and responsibly by allocating our resources to serve those most in need.

Our Services

Day Centre for Adults

Offer
If you live at home, the Day Centre is a supportive and pleasant place to spend your day. The centre offers holistic care to patients:

• physical, emotional & psychological support
• medical & nursing careDay Care (2)
• physiotherapy
• occupational therapy
• recreational therapy

Patients in the control of distressing symptoms can also be assisted here.

For any other concerns, your caregiver can seek advice from the hospice’s multi-disciplinary team. At the same time, she or he may enjoy some individual time while you are busy with the activities of the day.

Facilities

A large open-concept day room sits beautifully amid our luscious landscaped garden. In this tranquil setting you can expect to have a peaceful and pleasant day.
Craving for some gentle massage? Sit back and enjoy our relaxation corner, complete with massage chairs and aromatherapy treatment. For your physiotherapy needs, you may visit the newly equipped rehabilitation gym. Then, you may take your afternoon nap in the adjoining room. The space is furnished with comfortable electronic beds.

Service Features

We will greet you with a morning drink and serve you a nutritious meal for lunch. In the afternoon, warm tea will be provided

We understand the varying food preferences of our multi-cultural patients. Hence, we offer you a variety of menu to choose from.

Individual and group physiotherapy are conducted to help you maximise your physical potential.

On top of that, we organise a range of activities you can enjoy daily. Aimed at boosting your quality of life, these programs will give you a sense of independence and control. They will also be a good form of socialisation and relaxation for you.

You can also expect regular visits from our in-house doctors. Meanwhile, a staff nurse will be available to meet your needs. A volunteer dentist also attends to oral and dental care routinely, each month.

Activities

• Medical & Nursing AssessmentDay Care (3) Nursing Care
• Pastoral & Psychosocial Care
• Hairdressing Service
• Physiotherapy & Exercises
• Occupational Therapy
• Massages & Reflexology
  Music Therapy
• Relaxation Therapy
• Physical and Cognitive Games
• Cooking
• Outings to places of interest
• Social Activities

Home Care Support

Home Care is a 24-hour support service which caters to patients who choose to stay at home. We will assist you and your family as you cope with your current condition. Home Care is committed to helping you adjust mentally and emotionally, with your loss of health and independence
Service Features

• A support team of nurses, doctors and counsellors/ social workers
• Regular home visits by a nurse on weekdays between 9am to 5pm
• Visits by the doctor when medical attention is needed
• Training in basic nursing care to the main caregiver to help ensure the patient’s comfort at home
• Loan of medical and nursing equipment whenever possible, such as wheelchair, walking aid, commode or oxygen concentrator
• On call service 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Provides medical and nursing advice and medical attention
• Pain and symptom control, psychosocial and spiritual support

In-patient Care

Assisi Hospice offers two wards with a Inpatient (1)total of 37 beds, 19 of which are single-bedded rooms. The rest of the rooms are either double, four or five bedded with sufficient space for visitors.

All our rooms and wards are fully furnished with electronic hospital beds, television sets, en suite showers and toilet facilities. Our rooms are overlooking a beautifully landscaped garden with a water curtain feature, providing you a tranquil environment.

Admission Criteria

Most of the people admitted to the inpatient wards have prognosis of 3 months of less. They and their family choose to be cared for at the Inpatient service so that their symptoms can be better managed. For respite care, the caregivers can have a break, for transition between hospital and home when the home environment is being prepared and for the final place of care before death.

Activities

Patients can avail themselves to the relaxing and therapeutic activities held at the Day Centre each day from Mondays to Fridays (except Public Holidays). The activities include massages, reflexology, music therapy and exercises, painting, and socialising with others. For patients who are bed bound, they have access to volunteers who can accompany them for recreational activities such as massage, reading and befriending visits.

Service Features:

• Doctor’s attendance
• 24-hour medical and nursing care
• Nutritious meals
• Accommodation for patient
• Accompanying care-giver welcome
• Standard medication and investigations (This does not include chemotherapy, CT and MRI scans)

Psychosocial Support Service

The Counsellors and Medical Social Workers (MSW) in Assisi Hospice journey with patients in their time of need to support them and to enhance their quality of life. Their assistance extends to the families in easing the burdens of household needs, schooling and making known their loved one’s hopes and wishes, as well as, preparing families for the impending loss. The Psychosocial Support Service supports patients and families across all services.

Areas of Support:

• e provide and facilitate socio-economic evaluations to help you and your families address your practical concerns, such as financial matters, which are often an issue at the end of life.
• On-going individual and family counselling through face-to-face session or home visitations in order to help you navigate your personal and ethical dilemmas, cultural conflicts and issue relating to religion, spirituality and the meaning of life.
• Work with the broader community which includes educational, religious and social service organizations so that you can achieve your optimal end of life goals.
• Prepare you and your families for the end-of-life stage and managing the life closure and the dying process.
• After the patient’s death, we provide bereavement information, education and support to help the deceased patient’s families cope with their grief and loss.

Pastoral Care

Clinical Pastoral Care comprises of an experienced team who has an integral role in being part of the multi-disciplinary team at Assisi. We journey with In-patients, provide support for staff, assist in memorial services and other religious rites that are meaningful. We uphold the importance of holistic care of individuals by addressing the connections between physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.

Regardless of faith belief, we provide a listening ear and a compassionate presence to be companions on the journey through life. We also address the spiritual and psycho-social issues affecting them. This can only be realized when there is a great sense of trust and support after having built meaningful relationships.

At Assisi Hospice, patients are welcome to invite religious leaders of their faith tradition to visit and support them.

Supporting Patients and Their Loved Ones

With daily on-site coverage between 8.30 am to 9.00 pm., we continue to journey with patients and their loved ones, providing the necessary spiritual support.

Families and friends’ of patients have shown their appreciation for the care and support they received alongside the patients. Importantly, they witnessed the compassionate care offered by the pastoral team for their loved one during their stay in hospice and have valued our support.

Memorial Services

The Inter-faith Memorial Service continues to be central to our bereavement programme. It is held three times a year on the months of March, July and November.

Families whose loved ones passed on in the hospice are invited to return for an interfaith memorial service. This gives them an opportunity to remember the life of the deceased, pray for them and experience the solidarity of being with other grieving families. The five major faith traditions in Singapore are represented. Family members welcome the opportunity to meet the staff who supported them during their difficult time. This is also an opportunity for closure.