For a month now, an unprecedented but much needed service has been available in Latvia - state-funded palliative care at home. The organisation has even bigger plans for the future - it plans to create a hospice home for adults. At the same time, the Children's Palliative Care Society is actively working on such a service for children.
Until October this year, state-funded palliative care at home in Latvia was available only in the form of visits, but this is not enough for most patients, so their family members become carers. Adequate state-funded home care has been lacking for a long time. Daina Kricman-Vilcina's mother was diagnosed with stage IV tumours earlier this year. She spent ten days in hospital in a palliative care ward, but was very keen to spend the last days of her life at home. That's when the Hospiss LV service was announced.
"I tell everyone - friends and acquaintances - this miraculous story.
My mother had everything. She had a special bed, an oxygen machine, a wheelchair in case she started walking because she was completely bedridden. There was also Valentina, a carer with a lot of experience. She was with my mum for eight hours a day and fulfilled all her wishes and whims. Mum started calling them [the workers] angels and became very friendly," said Daina.
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