Palliative care focuses on quality of life
Palliative care is often misunderstood as being only about the final days of life. However, as Shelly Korn of Sunset Care explained during a recent JEWELL-Jewish Wellness Space webinar, its purpose is to help people live as well as possible when facing a serious illness – providing comfort, support and dignity throughout their journey.
Unlike traditional medical care, which often focuses primarily on curing illness, palliative care addresses the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of both the individual and their family.
It can take many forms, including symptoms management, end-of-life care during the final months of life, geriatric care for older people living with complex health needs, and hospice care tailored to each person’s circumstances.
Many professionals recommend that palliative care begins at the time of diagnosis of a life-limiting illness, rather than only when someone is approaching death. Early support can help individuals and families manage symptoms, make informed decisions, and prepare for the road ahead.
The impact extends beyond the patient
Serious illness affects more than the person receiving care. Families and caregivers often carry a significant emotional and practical burden as they navigate medical decisions, changing roles, and uncertainty about the future.
Shelly Korn highlighted the pressures faced by the ‘sandwich generation’ – those caring for ageing parents while also supporting their own children. For families whose adult children live elsewhere, as is increasingly common in the Cape Town Jewish community, these challenges can become even more complex. Decisions around care, finances and living arrangements may need to be made from a distance, often during a highly emotional period.
Six expert panellists emphasised the importance of making use of the support available within the community. Alongside private practitioners, Nechama, as explained by Sarit Swisa, can provide guidance, emotional support and practical assistance to families navigating
these challenges.
Loss takes many forms
The losses experienced by someone requiring palliative care are not only physical. People may grieve the loss of independence, their previous lifestyle, their role within their family, future plans, or their sense of identity.
Anticipatory grief – grieving a loss before it occurs – is a significant part of this process. Counselling and emotional support can therefore be valuable not only after someone has died, but while individuals and families adjust to a changing future.
A key message from the webinar was that “choosing to care for someone at home doesn’t mean choosing to do it alone”. Families need a network of support, including healthcare professionals, counsellors, community organisations and spiritual care providers.
Ageing in place requires planning
Many people hope to remain in their own homes as they age or approach the end of life. However, ageing in place requires careful planning and support.
Samantha Klynsmith of Highlands House noted that families often need guidance around practical considerations such as medical care, equipment, home support, finances and decision-making.
These conversations are particularly important within Cape Town’s Jewish community, which has an ageing population and many older people whose children no longer live locally. Ensuring that appropriate support networks are in place is becoming increasingly important.
Home care versus hospice care
While remaining at home is often a person’s preference, it is not always the most appropriate or sustainable option. Hospice care can provide specialist medical support, symptom management and emotional care for both the individual and their loved ones. Hospice care can be accessed from hospices, hospitals, nursing homes, step-down facilities, and at your own home.
Rod Bloom of the Rohan Bloom Foundation emphasised that hospice is not a place defined by sadness, but one that provides comfort, dignity and support during an important stage of life.
Hospice organisations such as Sunset Care offer co-ordinated support that may include medical interventions, equipment, family assistance, emotional support and links to wider community resources.
Addressing gaps in care
The webinar, moderated by JEWELL’s director, Natalie Barnett, highlighted that there remains a shortage of palliative care resources, particularly for those who cannot access private healthcare. Dr Andrea Mendelsohn, who works in the field at Groote Schuur Hospital, stressed the need for stronger public-private partnerships to address this gap. By way of example, she highlighted Nechama’s contribution in providing grief counselling training to hospital staff.
Another significant gap is the absence of a dedicated paediatric hospice facility in Cape Town. This was a reality experienced by Rod Bloom following the death of his 14-year-old son, Rohan, from cancer. His experience led him to establish the Rohan Bloom Foundation, which is working towards creating a paediatric in-patient facility – a vision that is now close to becoming a reality.
Building a Jewish model of care
End of Life Educator and Soul carer Rafaela Joffe Peerutin highlighted the opportunity to develop a unique Jewish approach to palliative care – one that recognises that support extends beyond medical intervention.
Such a model, she explained, should incorporate spiritual care and include religious leaders alongside healthcare professionals and community organisations.
Planning ahead
One of the strongest messages from the webinar was the importance of having difficult conversations before a crisis occurs.
Families are encouraged to discuss:
- What does the person want as their illness progresses?
- Who will make medical decisions if they are unable to do so?
- What practical and financial arrangements need to be put in place?
- What support will the family need?
Avoiding conversations about illness, ageing and death can make planning more difficult. Having these discussions earlier allows families to focus on what matters most – living with meaning, connection and dignity.
For a community that places great value on family and collective responsibility, both JEWELL and Sunset Care emphasise that greater awareness of palliative care is an important step towards ensuring that people receive the support they need throughout every stage of life and will continue collaborating to plan a way forward.
To find out more about Sunset Care email shelly@sunsetcare.co.za
To find out more about JEWELL go to Jewellness.org
A recording of the webinar is available on the JEWELL YouTube channel. Click here to watch the recording.
If you have a question for any of the panellists, or would like to get involved in providing services in this space, contact JEWELL at info@jewellness.org
JEWELL http://www.jewellness.org Email: info@jewellness.org
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