People with a cancer diagnosis often express a need to balance the medical facets of their care with the psychological and emotional aspects, in order to better cope with the effects of the disease.

 

“Wellness is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”

– WHO

 

This definition has paved the way for the broader concept of wellness to be introduced into our approach to cancer care.

 

The result is a more holistic approach, which targets the body, mind and spirit to help ease and treat the impact of cancer in our lives. This encompasses the Physical, Social, Psychological and Spiritual dimensions of a patient’s life.

 

Oncare

 

The Oncare Centre is a state-of-the-art medical facility built to support people living with cancer and their families in a Happy, Comforting and Home-Like setting.

 

We have formulated a professional plan of care to relieve suffering in all areas of a patient’s life involving physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists. We provide other allied services like spiritual and recreational facilities for patients. Through this multidisciplinary approach, we wish to address physical, emotional, spiritual and social concerns that arise even with advanced stage cancer.

 

 

 

Facilities

 

Out Patient Department (OPD): The centre provides for an OPD where different doctors will attend for special needs, including:

 

 – Palliative Care: A doctor specializing in Palliative care isavailable to provide basic palliative and supportive treatment at the centre.

 

 – Psychological Care: Psychiatrist/psychologists are available to assess the patient’s needs. Counselling is offered in individual as well as group therapy sessions.

 

 – Occupational & Physio-therapy: Group sessions are conducted by Occupational and Physiotherapists. A qualified therapist is also available for specific needs such as lymphedema management etc.

 

– Nutritional Session: We provide access to professional nutritionists. Cancer and cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy etc. can often weaken the immune system, this makes it harder for your body to protect itself from food poisoning. The nutritionist creates an individual diet chart based on the patients needs, educates the patients on what to avoid and even provides recipes with demonstration.

Group Activities:We provide various therapeutic activities to our patients and their caregivers: 

 

 – Yoga: Yoga for cancer survivors and patients provides an internal anchor of calm. Many practicing yoga therapy have discovered an increased awareness of a great, internal stillness and sense of unity. They’ve found at the most fundamental level of their own consciousness, a sense of true health and vitality that spills over into other aspects of life.

For those undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, yoga for cancer provides a means to strengthen the body, boost the immune system, and produce a much-sought-after feeling of well-being. For those recovering from surgery, such as that for breast cancer, yoga can help restore motion and flexibility in a gentle, balanced manner.

 

 – Dance Therapy: Dance Movement Therapy is the psycho-therapeutic use of movement to promote emotional, social, cognitive and physical integration of the individual, for the purpose of improving health and well-being.

 

 – Occupational therapy: It is a physical therapy that works to improve a person’s ability to perform daily activities. Our therapists take the patient through the entire process of: (i)Evaluation – to assess the level of the problem, (ii) Intervention – by adapting the patients environment and providing individualised therapy, and (iii) Outcome Evaluation: to ensure that the patients goals are being met.

 

 – Group Physiotherapy: We provide access to group physiotherapy sessions conducted by experts. Physiotherapy in palliative care is orientated to achieve the optimum quality of life as perceived by the patient. We believe in a holistic & problem solving approach to physiotherapy in orderto achieve maximum physical, psychological, social and vocational functioning and to adapt the therapy based ona patient’s changing abilities.

 

 – Art & Craft: We have volunteers who conduct Art & Craft sessions for the patients at OnCare. They teach patients simple skills of making different things like, Gift Envelop, Gift Bags, Photo Frames, Candles, Christmas Decoration, Folders, Calendars etc. This is not only therapeutic for the patients but also empowers them with the ability to create different items. Some of the items made are sold at our annual Christmas & Diwali sale and the proceeds of whichare re-investedin the foundation.

 

– Counselling and Group Counselling: Oncare offers Counselling services with a Counsellor on Board, that allow a safe place for it’s cancer patients and caregivers to talk about their concerns. Patients seeking counselling services are enrolled for the process on a weekly basis to work on mental and emotional fatigue and coping mechanisms thus allowing them to feel less overwhelmed and more in control of themselves.

Group Counselling sessions are also held once a week to allow the patients to meet others who share similar concerns. This has allowed our counselling clients to learn from others’ insights thus promoting actions that may help resolve certain conflicts and stresses that have arose in dealing with cancer.

 

 – Art Based Therapy: The goal of art-based therapy, is to promote self-expression, personal insights and self-awareness. Art based therapy involves using visual art, music, movement, theatre and creative writing to achieve the above goals. 

Music therapy and dance therapy sessions help to improve the patient’s awareness, focus, self-expression and communication. These therapies also emphasise connecting with oneself, being in the moment and fostering inner harmony. 

Visual art and storytelling based therapies help patients to understand their emotions, express those emotions and begin the process of healing. These sessions are all about being in the moment, introspection and re-connecting with one’s true nature.

 

Other Facilities:

 

 – Catering Services: All patients are provided with tea/coffee twice a day and a nutritious & healthy lunch for patients who are there throughout the day.

 

 – Ambulance Service: Patients from nearby hospitals and Dharamshalas are picked up by our ambulance service.

 

– Transport: We provide an ambulance service to and from all Dharamshalas in the vicinity.

 

Timings:

 

The centre is open from Monday to Friday, from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm