Press releases JUNE 2008 and before.
BUSY MAY FOR CARING TOGETHER CHARITY
During May, the ever popular book sales designed to raise funds for ‘Caring Together’ and held on the San Jose IV urbanisation at Orihuela Costa have continued apace and it was very pleasing that the number of returned ‘50 cent’ books equalled those sold. Altogether, 80 Euros was raised by the sale of these ‘bargain basement books’ and this has been passed over to the Charity’s main account for the ongoing finance of its good works.
Obviously, it would not be acceptable to mention names, but in one case, ‘Caring Together’ was approached by a third party who sought assistance for an elderly couple. In this instance, valuable palliative terminal nursing care was provided to a gentleman who was dying of cancer so affording great assistance to his poor wife who struggled to cope with the huge burdens of caring for her husband.
Very sadly, three weeks into a care programme, the gentleman passed away but at least it was in the familiarity of his own home and accompanied by his wife who naturally, was very grateful for the assistance rendered at this telling time.
Henry Lock, Charity President said, ‘This is just what ‘Caring Together’ was established for - to provide palliative and home based nursing care at the end of life for anyone needing assistance here on Spain’s Costa Blanca. Our prayers are with those who have just suffered the loss of their husband, relative and friend.’
Anyone needing help and assistance in cases such as these are warmly welcomed to contact Henry on 965 894 240 or to visit the ‘Caring Together’ website at: http://www.caringspain.com/
On a different note, fundraiser, Steve Butler has expressed great satisfaction at the number of charities who will be joining with ‘Caring Together’ at the Grand Charity Fete to be held at the Asturias Bar & Restaurant at Punta Prima, Orihuela Costa on Saturday 5th July but informs that to date he has been approached by no animal charities who would be most welcome to come along and to set up a ‘bric a brac’ stall at no cost. Should any animal charity fundraisers be interested, or indeed any other charity, Steve invites them to phone him on 96 676 1944 to discuss arrangements. This will be solely a charity event.
(Jpeg photographs attached show passers by browsing at the Caring Together book stall. Free to publish article written by: Michael John Chappell for Caring Together: contact Mike on +34 96 676 1772 or michael.chappell@midasdsl.com
PRESS RELEASE. Date of issue 21-07-07.CHANGING DOMICILE TO THE HEREAFTER.
An occasional column from Asociación CARING TOGETHER.
As an organization concerned with the promotion and provision of palliative care we have never found an acceptable way of using unqualified volunteers directly at the bedsides of our patients. Now, the possibility is drawing closer.
On 5th July our Hon. Vice-president José Antonio and Hon. Secretary Francisca Dolores were among approximately 800 delegates at a presentation in the main conference hall of the Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo in Madrid of the latter’s new plans for care of the dying.
The presentation was of a new booklet of 160 pages entitled ”Estrategia en Cuidados Paliativos del Servicio Nacional de Salud, 2007.” It reiterates the Ministry’s long-held view that palliative care teams should be formed by hospitals to work in the community, visiting terminally ill patients in their own homes. It’s fair to say that this is beginning to happen in our area but that very much more needs to be done!
Here we’ll mention just two of the new ideas drawn from the wealth of evidence-supported material in this top-level guide.
It is intended that the first line of doctors - the GPs – should all receive special training in palliative care, for doctors do not like death any more than the rest of us, and in the Ministry’s view do not receive enough information or resources to help their patients as life draws to a close.
The second idea is that Associations such as CARING TOGETHER should be empowered to train volunteers to sit with patients and listen to whatever they want to talk about. For the Ministry believes that it is often easier for a patient to talk to a stranger about his pain and other problems than to talk to those of his immediate family circle.
It is emphasised that such volunteers must be very carefully selected and, once trained, should they should form part of the team bringing palliative care to each patient.
Before everyone rushes to offer to form a continuing friendly relationship with strangers who are dying, we must say that Caring Together is not yet ready to offer suitable training to such volunteers. What will be required is a Ministry-approved course with a diploma for those who succeed in meeting the course requirements…………………
……………CARING TOGETHER has, in the past, been mistaken for a business because our website is www.caringspain.com . We never wanted to be a DOT. COM because we are a not-for-profit non-governmental-organization (ONG). But www.caringspain.com was the best domain name we could find – until last week.
Now, with the recent creation of a new Registry of European Websites, we have been able to register the domain name www.caringtogether.eu. As we feel truly European, we believe that to have reserved this domain name will make our intentions clearer as time goes by.
Sometime soon we hope to transfer all our Internet material to the new
location ! Can any reader tell us how to? Until we learn the trick, you’ll still find us at www.caringspain.com .
Actually we are entirely dependent on the donations of wellwishers and volunteer fundraisers in order to move forward. Please help us add quality to the end of life by supporting our work.
BARCELONA. Barcelona makes the best provision for palliative care in all Spain – according to the email of a doctor working there, griten in reply to an enquiry from a lady in Argentina who was worried about a friend living in Barcelona. The doctor’s advice was to consult the patient’s médico de cabacera (GP) to find the appropriate service.
If you have a similar worry about someone living a bit nearer to Alicante, CARING TOGETHER will try to make suitable contacts for you if we are unable to send help to the required address . Just email info@caringspain.com or phone +34 965894240. For urgent questions about palliative care, please call 619 216 270.
Copy ends.
henry on July 22nd 2007