Palliative care social workers, the custodians of patients’ well-being  

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Compassion and care is at the heart of what East Rand Palliative Care (ERPC), formerly known as Hospice East Rand’s, social workers do.

For nearly a decade, Busi Ntondini and Abegail Els have dedicated their hearts to offering emotional support to ERPC patients as well as their families, saying that these services are a calling only a few heed.

Dressed in her school uniform, Busi spent weekends and holidays volunteering at a hospice in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
Shortly after graduating in 2001, the mother of four joined the Department of Justice, working as a family support social worker.

“Throughout my career, hospice care beckoned me, urging me to return to the field where my love for this line of work is rooted. I was blessed when I became a member of this team in 2017,” she said.

For Abegail, her business administration studies propelled her into an illustrious career within the engineering sector.

“During my tea and lunch breaks I always found myself lending a patient ear to a colleague facing emotional turmoil, gently counselling them. My superiors once jokingly said that they think I am in the wrong line of work and that is when the penny dropped.”

The mother of three girls soon signed up for various counselling courses, until a mentor at UNISA convinced her to pursue a social work degree.

“It was like coming home. My studies spoke to my desire to better the lives of others,” she said.

“Following advice from my aunt, who had worked at the former Hospice East Rand, I met with Busi who assisted in securing me an interview.”

Holding hands the colleagues, who have since become good friends, said the enduring love and respect for all of humanity is what makes the ERPC team formidable.

“As social workers, we devote our time to registered patients as well as their families. We meet them where they find themselves on the palliative care journey,” said Busi.

“Receiving a life-threatening or life-limiting diagnosis is a grieving process. Patients and their families need to come to terms with the prognosis and what every following step entails,” said Abegail.

“There is no script and everyone reacts differently. We therefore need to ensure that we are completely emotionally present with every individual we meet.”

Explaining their roles within the organisation, these resilient women said weekly multi-disciplinary briefings with ERPC’s medical team gives them an insight into the treatment process each individual patient is undergoing as well as the possible side-effects, in order for them to prepare for the emotional well-being of those involved.

“Treatment and medication will aid the body, but if the patient is fearful or stressed they may not respond well,” said Busi.

“Emotional healing and strength has the ability to bring both the body and the mind in sync thus, aiding the healing process.

“True and mindful empathy is at the core of what we do. The patients become our family and rely on us to be their pillars of strength.”

Sharing warm smiles these social workers agree that their role in the community plays a vital role in fostering a fighting spirit.
For more information about ERPC go to www.erpc.org.za or call 011 422 1531.