Life Into Days
Hospice and palliative care are in the spotlight on an international day of awareness.
If you’re lucky enough to live here in Andalucia, chances are you’re enjoying another day of blue skies and sunshine, local colour and cheerful clamour. In a setting that celebrates life so well, death is the last thing we want to think about.
But with the proportion of Spanish residents aged over 60 set to rise by 27 per cent by 2020 – and over-85’s the fastest growing segment of that rise – it’s something many of us are already facing with our own aging family members.
So think about it for a moment: if you or a loved one had just a short time left to live, how would you want the end of that life to be? Research in European countries reflects that most people want pain relief, dignity, privacy and a calm atmosphere; they usually want to spend their last days and weeks at home or in a homelike setting, surrounded by family and close friends. They want emotional and practical support for their loved ones, during and after their final illness.
Yet families in Spain, where this care has traditionally been provided, are under increasing pressure in the current financial crisis; younger members are moving away from home or going abroad to find work, and more middle-aged women, the traditional carers, are also more often in part-time or full-time employment. As for expats, many of them have left family behind in other parts of Europe and are established here in Spain. It all points to a growing need for a new kind of caring service.
A study conducted by the University of Granada in 2011 found that the importance of palliative care (a legal term in Spain only since 2007) has gained importance alongside the growth of preventive medicine here. The outlook for both is the same: not just curing disease but improving quality of life and diminishing suffering. However, the study concluded that hospitals are ‘the theatre of struggle to maintain life’ with doctors pledged to achieve this as a priority.
Independent, secular palliative care provision in Spain is sparse, a situation reflected in Andalucia. Málaga province has the excellent Cudeca Foundation in Benalmádena. Over the past 20 years, Cudeca has worked with the region’s hospitals to offer care to over 7,000 residents. But that care is not available in Granada province. Which is why, in the past year, the Costa Tropical has launched its own palliative care initiative. Acompalia is the brainchild of Tina Emmott, a longtime resident of Orgiva, in the Alpujarras south of Granada.
“All of us at Acompalia are committed to making palliative and hospice care a reality for Granada residents, whatever their nationality, age or financial circumstances,” she says. “Most of us have experienced either the benefit or absence of this kind of care with our own loved ones. It’s about putting more life into their days, not just adding more days to a life.”
Acompalia’s vice-president Chris Stewart, author of Driving Over Lemons says: “I am proud to see Acompalia doing its bit to help patients in this corner of Spain. It seems extraordinary that palliative care should be so strong in, say, Nigeria or Malaysia, whereas it is a subject that has barely been broached here. Recognition of the worldwide Palliative Care day may well have a positive effect though, and get things moving in the right direction.”
Before the end of this year, Acompalia plans to set up a Telephone Helpline, staffed by trained, caring counsellors and supervised by Lou Hunwick, a member of the Acompalia committee and an experienced Macmillan Care Nurse. “We’ve already held Volunteer Workshops, and the first full training day is to be held at the Hotel Salobreña on 14th October.”
And over the next five years, Acompalia has big plans: providing trained carers to visit terminally ill patients at home; establishing a daycare centre, with well-being services such as massage and physiotherapy; and finally, building and staffing a fully-equipped 15-bed palliative care centre/hospice, with nursing care offered in a peaceful garden setting.
The charity is fundraising vigorously to set up the Helpline, and welcomes new members and volunteers. “We’ve had a great response to our fundraising appeal from organisations like the International Club of Salobreña, the Royal Naval Association in Salobrena and the Almuñecar Women’s Group,” said Tina. “In fact with their fundraising events and our own activities, we’ve raised over €12,000 so far!”
Acompalia recently welcomed its first dedicated Support Group, based in Castell de Ferro on the Costa Tropical. Led by Maureen Sallnow, the group has already raised €1,150 with several more events lined up.
“We want people to see the potential of holding fun events in their own community, and at the same time, helping this very worthwhile cause,” said Tina. “World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 12 October is a very good day to join in!
On 11th October Acompalia has permission to hold a flag day at Alcampo, in Motril. They will also be at the Hospital Comarcal Santa Ana Hospital in Motril, collecting much needed funds and handing out leaflets to raise awareness.
“The Costa Del Sol News has already kindly publicised the history lecture and luncheon at El Camping, in Orgiva, on 15th October,” said Tina. “Now, just before the lunch, Salobrena resident Helen McCormack will be at the same venue, with TV cameras from Tele Motril and regional press seeing her off on a three-day sponsored walk – with a donkey.” Helen and her four-hoofed hero will walk to Nigüelas, camping en route.
“I’m hoping that the donkey, a symbol of Andalucía, will inspire people to give to this great cause,” says Helen. Tele Motril, along with other Spanish media, will be there to see her on her way.
Tina welcomes enquiries about fundraising for Acompalia at: 958 784 055 or at info@acompalia.org. Readers are also welcome to visit the website at: www.acompalia.org.