Palliative Care - Cahercalla Community Hospital and Hospice Care

Dignity, Privacy and the Very Best of Care

Ask anyone who works in palliative care and they’ll tell you, palliative care is less about being a place, than it is about a type of care.

At Cahercalla we have worked hard to provide both – combining an incomparable state-of-the-art, specialised facility with a uniquely sensitive and respectful way of meeting the needs of those with life-limiting illnesses.

Palliative Care at Cahercalla

Palliative Care at Cahercalla is designed to take care of people who may be in the final stages of a terminal illness… who need specialised support following treatment such as chemotherapy… or who could benefit from a period of respite and focused care, away from home. Whatever brings a patient to us, the focus is always on making sure they are as comfortable as they can be. It’s about care, not cure – so that each day can be lived as pain-free as possible, with maximum quality of life.

At Cahercalla, we try to understand every patient as a whole person, rather them being defined by their illness. This means their emotional, spiritual and social needs are just as important as their physical ones – and this is reflected in our approach, our facilities and the kind of services we provide.

Palliative Care at Cahercalla

Palliative Care at Cahercalla is designed to take care of people who may be in the final stages of a terminal illness… who need specialised support following treatment such as chemotherapy… or who could benefit from a period of respite and focused care, away from home. Whatever brings a patient to us, the focus is always on making sure they are as comfortable as they can be. It’s about care, not cure – so that each day can be lived as pain-free as possible, with maximum quality of life.

At Cahercalla, we try to understand every patient as a whole person, rather them being defined by their illness. This means their emotional, spiritual and social needs are just as important as their physical ones – and this is reflected in our approach, our facilities and the kind of services we provide.

It’s about care, not cure – so that each day can be lived as pain-free as possible, with maximum quality of life.

Palliative Care as an Option

You can consider Cahercalla Palliative Care for:

Respite Care – to help patients receive focused care while their families have the chance to rest and recharge a little.
Symptom Control – where more intensive monitoring and control of illness is required.
End-of-Life Care – dignity, respect and compassion when it matters most.
Psychological Support – helping patients and families come to terms with this stage of life.
Combination of care

We accept admissions from a patient’s GP, their hospital consultant or Home Care Team.

Palliative Care as an Option

You can consider Cahercalla Palliative Care for:

Respite Care – to help patients receive focused care while their families have the chance to rest and recharge a little.
Symptom Control – where more intensive monitoring and control of illness is required.
End-of-Life Care – dignity, respect and compassion when it matters most.
Psychological Support – helping patients and families come to terms with this stage of life.
Combination of care

We accept admissions from a patient’s GP, their hospital consultant or Home Care Team.

24 Hour Specialised Care

At Cahercalla Palliative Care, patients receive round-the-clock care and support from a dedicated team of professionals who specialise in this kind of unique care. It’s about training, skill, expertise – but it’s also about being there, understanding, listening and caring. We also encourage relatives to participate in caring for their family member – and we support them as they do so.

Services provided include:

Physiotherapy – including exercise and manipulation, helping patients remain mobile.
Chiropody – including a simple nail cut.
Counselling – this is available for both patients and their families and can go along way towards ensuring psychological and social well-being.

24 Hour Specialised Care

At Cahercalla Palliative Care, patients receive round-the-clock care and support from a dedicated team of professionals who specialise in this kind of unique care. It’s about training, skill, expertise – but it’s also about being there, understanding, listening and caring. We also encourage relatives to participate in caring for their family member – and we support them as they do so.

Services provided include:

Physiotherapy – including exercise and manipulation, helping patients remain mobile.
Chiropody – including a simple nail cut.
Counselling – this is available for both patients and their families and can go along way towards ensuring psychological and social well-being.

Where Families Stay Close

In palliative care, family is everything. So we extended our facility to include a new Family Apartment – where relatives can stay while a family member is resident. This cuts down on tiring travel and disruptive hours, and means loved ones are never far away. We also have a large family room for meet-ups and coffee breaks.

Purpose-Built Facilities

Our Palliative Care is a special, purpose-designed and built unit situated in the garden wing of the hospital. To ensure a sense of peace and calm, the section overlooks the beautiful landscaped gardens of Cahercalla – stunning at any time of the year.

There are 3 palliative care rooms – each equipped with specialised equipment including bed, chair and hoist. All rooms have a TV, telephone, overhead bed light and nurse’s call bell.

Purpose-Built Facilities

Our Palliative Care is a special, purpose-designed and built unit situated in the garden wing of the hospital. To ensure a sense of peace and calm, the section overlooks the beautiful landscaped gardens of Cahercalla – stunning at any time of the year.

There are 3 palliative care rooms – each equipped with specialised equipment including bed, chair and hoist. All rooms have a TV, telephone, overhead bed light and nurse’s call bell.

The Extras that Make the Difference

The palliative care rooms also includes a conservatory for relaxation – as well as a treatment room complete with bathroom and jacuzzi bath. In addition, patients can enjoy:

A hair and beauty salon, for patients and their families.
Aromatherapy – the relaxing benefits of a gentle massage with essential oils.
Spiritual Care – Mass is celebrated each morning in the chapel and relayed to rooms via CCTV. All religious denominations are catered for.

The Extras that Make the Difference

The palliative care rooms also includes a conservatory for relaxation – as well as a treatment room complete with bathroom and jacuzzi bath. In addition, patients can enjoy:

A hair and beauty salon, for patients and their families.
Aromatherapy – the relaxing benefits of a gentle massage with essential oils.
Spiritual Care – Mass is celebrated each morning in the chapel and relayed to rooms via CCTV. All religious denominations are catered for.

Some Answers to Your Questions…

The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines Palliative Care as:

“An approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. This through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems – physical, psychological and spiritual.”

Palliative Care:

provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms;
affirms life and regards dying as a normal process;
intends neither to hasten nor postpone death;
integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care;
offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death;
offers a support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness, and in their own bereavement;
uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counselling if needed;
will enhance quality of life and may also positively influence the course of illness.
is applicable early in the course of illness, together with other therapies are intended to prolong life, eg. chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Most stays are about 14 days in length, but it depends on the individual’s needs. As a hospice cannot provide long-term care, we assess each patient on a case-by-case basis, every 2 weeks and our multi-disciplinary team will decide on what longer-term care is required.

Palliative Care is regarded free of charge, regardless of a person’s means.

You’re a Part of Our Community

Cahercalla Community Care, Cahercalla Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland

T: +353 65 682 4388

E: info@cahercalla.ie

Charitable Status Number: CHY 10277