Lakshmi Palliative Care – Clinic on Wheels (The Care of a Hospital in the Comfort of your Home)

Even if we keep the onset of chronic illnesses aside, the distress caused the symptoms, such as pain, sleeplessness, breathlessness, anxiety, lack of appetite are unnerving enough to mandate several rushed visits and/or in-patient stays in the hospital. Not only the patient but the entire family is invested in these efforts, which is often a huge strain on already meagre family resources, draining them financially, emotionally and physically. Caregiving becomes a lot more stressful and exacting a task when there is a lack of resources. On the other hand, hospitals and clinics are overcrowded and their staff, overworked. Patients continue to throng the hospitals because they have no recourse to alternate, reliable, quality care.

Palliative Care goes hand-in-hand with the treatment of the disease, at any time, any age, any stage. Routine, Scheduled and Regular Home Visits: Sending a qualified team of professionals trained specifically in palliative care, right to the patient’s home. The Lakshmi Palliative Care Team (LPCT) will include a transport vehicle driver, doctor, nurse, social worker and/or a psychologist. Symptom Management: Addressing symptoms like pain, sleeplessness, breathlessness, anxiety, lack of appetite, oedema etc. at home itself, leaving only emergencies to hospitals/clinic. Mandatory Services: Medical, nursing, psycho-social intervention. This will include basic medication, nursing and counselling services (for patient and family/caregivers).

Costs: -Substantial subsidy in costs – both to the hospitals and the patients. -Avoiding unnecessary hospital visits/stay for services that can easily be rendered at home. -Making Palliative Care Insurable and thereby, embracing who need it most: the sick and the elderly Comfort: -Reducing discomfort to the patient (and caregivers) incurred by travelling and waiting -Regular care/check-up/follow-up will significantly reduce the incidence of patients not getting help or attention in time Awareness: Home visits will spread more awareness about palliative care and help obliterate the myth that one can be cared for properly only in a hospital