JL Zwane/St. Lukes is the local Hospice that provides patients and their families with compassionate and quality care. We currently have 2 palliative care professional nurses. Sister Joyce Malgas works with 23 home based caregivers that are trained to provide respectful care for the patients with HIV/AIDS. Sister Malgas works with cancer patients and facilitates a support group every Thursdays. We have our social worker, Mr Lawrence Mandikana, the spiritual and Bereavement councilor Mr. Lawrence Khuzwayo, and 2 administration clerks, Mrs Marjorie and Mrs. Nobesuthu Bala. We care for 124 home patients in Gugulethu in their own homes. Our patients are both HIV/AIDS infected people as well as chronic ill patients who are bedridden due to cancer. Patients are usually referred to us from our community Health care (KTC Day Hospital), from Jooste Hospital and from Groote Schuur Hospital. Some of them are self referrals. We provide ongoing care by referring our patients to the in-patient unit for follow-up care which is in Lenteguer and in Kenilworth for the highest quality of end of life.

At JL Zwane/St Lukes Hospice we:

1. Visit the patient within 48 hours of receiving the referral.
2. Assess the physiological, emotional, psychosocial and spiritual needs of the patient.
3. Categorize the patient and develop a care plan within 72 hours.
4. Allocate the patient to a home based carer who will visit and support the patient and relatives as per category.
5. Refer patient according to needs identified: social worker, nutrition clinic, TB screening, or support Groups.
6. Assist patients with assistive devices eg wheelchairs, commodes, etc.

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