Shanti Sadan, a ray of hope for the terminally-ill

State-of-the-art medical facilities are available in the country ensure people lead a healthy life, but there is hardly any place that caters to patients battling terminal stage of cancer or HIV/AIDS to allow them to die with dignity.

In India, the concept of hospices and care centres for terminally-ill patients is fairly unexplored. One such centre dedicated to providing care to terminally-ill patients is Shanti Avedna Sadan in South Delhi. The centre terms itself as a home for continuing care of cancer patients.

Founded by Dr Jose Luis de Souza about 15 years ago, Shanti Avedna Sadan has centres in Mumbai and Goa as well. The Sadan’s administrator, Sister Ancy, said the centre’s motto is to provide comfort and make sure that patients pass away calmly. “We have terminally-ill cancer patients, so we know we have to do everything to make their journey peaceful. Once we have the patient, we do everything possible. We find their families, we help the family also understand the emotional needs of the patients. This place is not a hospital, we take care of the patients the way the family members would do.”

Sister Ancy, though her experience with the Sadan, both in Mumbai and Delhi, has seen patients going through stages of grief very closely. “Mostly, when the patients are admitted to our Sadan, they are in the initial stages of grief. They are angry, so it is very difficult for the family to understand and cope with them. We help them in every possible way to get past all stages of grief and finally accept the truth.”

Apart from monetary reasons, the patients come there because the families feel helpless. For Sister Ancy and the other staff at the Sadan, it becomes very tough when the patients keep longing for their family and leave this world in their absence.

The staff focuses more on keeping patients happy. The nursing staff and volunteers spend most of the time talking and watching TV with patients so that they are not confined to their beds only.

The staff, volunteers and doctors work like a close-knit family to help the patients.

“The staff also needs tremendous support. Apart from the medical care, the staff provides emotional support. We all have dedicated our lives to this cause. We draw our energy from the peace and comfort we see on the patient’s face when they pass away.”