Hospice, to certain people, is a word strictly taboo

They viewed it absolutely as a death house where the dying are confined to.

When my illness deteriorated, I wanted to know what hospice is all about;
Could someone please enlighten me, I pleaded aloud.

I could, with my nurses and social workers from ASSISI
Hospice, said Dr Hosen;
We are here to make life happy and comfortable for all our patients.

At the hospice, dedicated staff work round the clock, providing
care and support;
So that patients can pass their days in pleasing comfort.

Here, professionalism, compassion and humanity is profoundly
visible;
When you see hospice staff attending to the feeble and the disabled.

Home patients receive visits by doctors, nurses and social
counselors, who provide them with palliative care;
Just to make sure no one is left out in despair.

Sadly, hospice patients will pass away eventually;
Humanely, everything possible will be done so that no one
dies in agony.

Now I know why hospice is less repulsive and more endearing;
Because patients here can live peacefully with minimal suffering.

So, death house or heavenly shelter?
Let the facts be the decider.

Thank you Dr Hosen and your dedicated crew;
Without you all, today, I probably, might not be that cool.

NPC Hospice - Death House or Heavenly Shelter

Contributed by Bernard Ng / NPC survivor
Dated 23 July 2010
Survivor since 2003

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