Two of our care partners share a story each about their work with social workers… When one of our patients enrols on the Alignd Palliative Care Programme, we put together a multidisciplinary palliative care team, and including an oncology social worker is key. They are laser-focused on helping patients and their families. And it’s why, this World Social Work Day – and...
With a palliative care team by her side, Mrs T didn’t have to do all the caring for her husband – she was able to just be his wife. Mr and Mrs T had been married for 40 years when Mr T was diagnosed with serious cancer. They were devoted partners, and Mrs T did all of the caring for...
Oncologist, Dr Irene Hitchin, has seen first-hand the power of early referral palliative care, which is why she introduces palliative care to her serious cancer patients at the first consult – along with the curative treatment plan. The effects are powerful. Clinical and radiation oncologist, Dr Irene Hitchin’s advanced cancer patients have a bit of an advantage. Dr Hitchin is a...
Zodwa Sithole, Head of Advocacy for CANSA, lost her sister, Elizabeth, to cancer 10 years ago. Because no one had offered Elizabeth palliative care early on, she experienced a lot of pain and uncertainty. This is Zodwa’s story… Before Zodwa Sithole became the Head of Advocacy for the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), she was a nurse, with training in...
Heather Duiker* is 78. Her daughter, Geraldine (45) describes her mom as creative, loyal, and straight-forward. Two years ago, Heather was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer, and Geraldine now adds “tough” to the list describing her mom. “When we heard the diagnosis, there was such disbelief. Then we were just shattered,” says Geraldine. But Heather just wanted to find out what she...
Through honest conversations with a palliative care doctor, discussing preferences for her ongoing care and early referral to palliative care, Nina was given the opportunity to consider what was important to her, and her young family. Nina* was a teacher. Married, with a 3-year-old daughter, she was 35 when she was diagnosed with a rare soft tissue cancer, which had spread...
You can start palliative care at any stage of a serious illness, even as soon as you receive a diagnosis and begin treatment. In fact, says palliative care trained doctor and co-founder of Alignd, Linda Holding, the earlier you access this extra layer of specialised care and support, the better for you and your family. Imagine there was specialised care and...
Because a forward-thinking, patient-centric medical scheme partnered with Alignd, a 74-year-old man with metastatic cancer received the care and support he wanted right from diagnosis until he died peacefully in his own bed. Morally sound design. High quality care. Cost effective. Three phrases every medical scheme wants to hear. And that’s how we’ve developed Alignd.Palliative. Most people want to die at home,...
For many people, accessing effective palliative care will mean the ability to live longer and to experience each moment of their lives more fully as a result of effective pain and symptom management, and holistic assessment of physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual needs. But many misunderstand it, or can’t afford it. Palliative care has had a bad rap. It’s often underutilised...
How our first patients let us know we were doing the right thing. When we started Alignd, and building the Alignd palliative care offering, we had years and years of training, research, networking and experience between us. It covered all the fields and skills needed to launch a business like this. And we had planned everything in minute detail. But until we...
