Helderberg Hospice provides skilled and compassionate care to all in the Helderberg area who face a life-threatening illness. Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a part of life and seeks neither to hasten not to postpone death. We encourage patients to live full and comfortable lives through the management of pain and symptom control, and provide support for all aspects of their being – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Our care is given free and unconditionally to all patients and their families.

History

Helderberg Hospice, founded in 1986, was one of the first hospices established in South Africa. This service to care for terminally ill patients has grown and developed in response to the community needs in the intervening period.

Today we offer a comprehensive palliative care service for persons living with terminal illnesses such as Cancer, End Stage Organ failure, Degenerative Neurological Disorders and HIV/AIDS.

Philosophy

Quality palliative is care provided through efficient use of resources and cost effective personnel management and development. Members of the health care team are guided in their practice by the dictates of the professional ethic and motivated by the pursuit of excellence.

Geographical Areas Served

Helderberg Hospice falls into the greater Cape Town Metropole area. We serve all the urban and Peri-Urban areas that fall under the larger named areas of Gordon’s Bay, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Somerset West, Lwandle, Nomzamo, Macassar, Firgrove and Faure.

“When my life is finally measured in months, weeks, days, hours, I want to live free of pain, free of indignity, free of loneliness. Give me your hand, give me your understanding, give me your love. Then let me go peacefully and help my family to understand.”

Helderberg Hospice provides skilled and compassionate care to all in the Helderberg area who face a life-threatening illness. Hospice affirms life and regards dying as a part of life and seeks neither to hasten not to postpone death. We encourage patients to live full and comfortable lives through the management of pain and symptom control, and provide support for all aspects of their being – physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Our care is given free and unconditionally to all patients and their families.

History

Helderberg Hospice, founded in 1986, was one of the first hospices established in South Africa. This service to care for terminally ill patients has grown and developed in response to the community needs in the intervening period.

Today we offer a comprehensive palliative care service for persons living with terminal illnesses such as Cancer, End Stage Organ failure, Degenerative Neurological Disorders and HIV/AIDS.

Philosophy

Quality palliative is care provided through efficient use of resources and cost effective personnel management and development. Members of the health care team are guided in their practice by the dictates of the professional ethic and motivated by the pursuit of excellence.

Geographical Areas Served

Helderberg Hospice falls into the greater Cape Town Metropole area. We serve all the urban and Peri-Urban areas that fall under the larger named areas of Gordon’s Bay, Sir Lowry’s Pass, Strand, Somerset West, Lwandle, Nomzamo, Macassar, Firgrove and Faure.

“When my life is finally measured in months, weeks, days, hours, I want to live free of pain, free of indignity, free of loneliness. Give me your hand, give me your understanding, give me your love. Then let me go peacefully and help my family to understand.”

We hold fundraising events throughout the year and will post info regularly to our website and on the Events & Entertainment section on ShowMe Helderberg.

Annual events include:

• Cycling for Life endurance challenge
• Hospice Week
• With Love Day Collections
• Foot of Helderberg Big Walk
• Voices for Hospice
• Carols by Candlelight

Our three charity shops sell second-hand clothing, furniture, household items and books. Bargain hunters and lovers of vintage goods can call in at our shops in:

• Drama Street Somerset West (021-852 6848)
• The Panorama Building, Strand (021-854 3121)
• 11 Langenegger St, Gant’s Centre (021-854 5341)

The “I Care” range, including bottled olives, a delicious Portuguese sauce and pure honey is available from Helderberg Hospice.

Helderberg Hospice is a tax-exempt (18A status), non-profit organisation that receives contributions from the community to support the Hospice mission. These contributions to the organisation allow us to provide quality care for patients and their families regardless of their ability to pay. Hospice relies on individuals, businesses, corporates, churches and the community to help supplement Hospice care services and additional programmes.

Ways To Give

• Donations – monetary or gifts in kind
• Join Club 1000
• Become a volunteer
• Leave a gift in your will
• Goods for the Hospice Shops
• Food parcels are supplied to the very needy patients and we rely on donations to buy the food to make up the parcels.

Give us your time

Our Volunteers are an important part of service delivery and support in many areas of our care, and over 200 people give of their time and skill to reduce costs and add to the depth and diversity of our service to the community. We offer a special orientation programme and training courses to all our volunteers. If you’d like to help at Hospice in this way, we’d love to hear from you!

☑ What is the difference between a hospital and Hospice?

A hospital is a place dedicated to seeking a cure and preserving life, while Hospice is concerned with maintaining quality of life and providing a specialised holistic care for those who are dying.

☑ What is Palliative Care?

It is care which affirms life and regards dying as a normal process, neither hastens nor postpones death, provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient  care, offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death and offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in bereavement.

☑ Who  qualifies for Hospice care?

Our care is available to any person facing a  life-threatening illness, referred by their doctor, irrespective of their ability to pay for the service.

☑ Do I need a letter from my doctor?

Your doctor will need to complete a referral form that can be faxed or delivered to the Hospice office.

☑ As a patient, do I have a say in the care I receive?

Helderberg Hospice allows each patient to make decisions regarding care and treatment of his or her symptoms. Hospice offers pain control and comfort measures, improving the quality of life in the time remaining.

☑ How much does Hospice care cost?

Our budget for the current financial year is R7,5 million but Helderberg Hospice is dedicated to the belief that nobody should die alone, afraid or in pain, and that dying people have the right to appropriate care regardless of their ability to pay for the service. Patients and families are asked to contribute whatever they can afford. Some medical aids do cover the cost of Hospice care. Because our special care is given freely to all in the community, Helderberg Hospice is very dependent on the support of the community to financially sustain our service.

☑ Are you registered?

Yes

☑ Registration Number:

Non-profit organisation 004-372 NPO

☑ Are my donations tax-deductable?

Yes – just ask us for a certificate

☑ How will my donation be used?

Directly for the benefit of the patients at the Hospice.

☑ What % of my donation does the organisation receive?

For every R1 donated to Hospice, 86 cents goes directly to patient care. Tight controls and efficient record keeping are an important part of transparency and accountability to our donors.