Finding Comfort and Dignity at Life’s End

Candles flickered as families gathered at the Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society in Hyderabad to remember loved ones they had lost. After two minutes of silence, they began sharing stories of the people they missed, recalling not only the pain of parting but also the moments of comfort and care that had marked their loved ones’ final days.

As part of Palliative Care Month, the society marked World Palliative Care Day on October 10 with a bereavement gathering that brought together ten families whose loved ones had received hospice care. The event offered them a space to remember those they had lost and share memories and stories that the care team may not have known.

“One described the palliative care team as being like “gods and angels”, recalls Dr. Md. Farheen. “It is always about finding a little bit of light in the darkness. We are not celebrating death. We are celebrating their lives.”

The gathering also reflected the society’s approach to care, which extends beyond treating symptoms to supporting patients and families through serious illnesses. “When an illness can no longer be cured, the need for care does not end. Instead, the focus shifts to managing pain and other distressing symptoms, addressing emotional needs and helping patients retain their dignity,” Says Dr Farheen.

Established in 2007 by members of MNJ Government Cancer Hospital, the society provides free care through a home-care programme and a 40-bed hospice. What began with a single van staffed by a nurse, counsellor and driver has grown into a 12-van programme supported by four doctors. The teams care for around 1,000 patients across the city at any given time, making 55 to 60 home visits a day. “At home, patients receive medical attention, symptom management and emotional support. When their needs become difficult to manage there, they can move to the hospice.”

Its 40-bed hospice in Kukatpally, which opened in 2013, provides round-the-clock medical and nursing care, with a staff of around 50 and three doctors. Medicines, medical consumables and meals are provided free of charge. Families staying with patients also receive food and accommodation.

Palliative care is for the patient plus the family. The work extends beyond administering medication. It can mean listening to a patient's fears, helping family members understand the illness... We don’t give false hope or false reassurance. We try to be practical, listen to them and offer support.”

— Lalitha Bhavani, Counselor at the centre

For us, success is measured by how comfortably a patient dies. We deal with death every day. There is satisfaction in knowing that we have eased a patient’s suffering and made their final days more comfortable. For me, being able to preserve a patient’s dignity at the end of their life is what keeps me going.”

— Dr MD Farheen