Lan-ying (Left) and Yokky shared deep feelings when they met in the interview. It was the first time they saw each other again after Lan-ying’s mother had passed away.
Yokky knows Lan-ying’s mother loves fried pigeon, therefore Yokky specially cut a picture of fried pigeon from a magazine and put it inside the pot.
Palliative Care Integrates with Art Therapy
Helping Patients and Families to Express Feelings
When facing late-stage chronic or the final stage of life, patients usually encounter lots of challenges physically and emotionally. Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation has launched Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project: “Life Rainbow” End-of-Life Care Services since 2016 (“Life Rainbow”), providing holistic community support for the physical and mental wellness of late-stage chronic patients and their families. “Life Rainbow” also introduced Expressive Arts Therapy, offering outlets for patients and families’ emotion. HKSR organised “End-of-Life Exhibition” from 20th September 2018 to 2nd October 2018 which exhibited artworks and items from some late-stage chronic patients and their families, with the aim of inspiring the public to think more about “Life and Death”.
Support for Late-Stage Chronic Patients
According to the statistics from the Department of Health in 2017, there are about 24,000 non-cancerous chronic patients passed away annually. Other statistics also show that only 1.5% of those patients receive palliative treatment from hospitals, much less than that of cancer patients (80%). In view of this situation, “Life Rainbow” receives sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club and offers home-based palliative care for chronic patients who are reaching the late stage. “Life Rainbow” helps patients and their families to plan their late-stage life and hospice care, with the aim of maintaining their life independent, dignified and meaningful even in the advanced stage. Since its launch in 2016, “Life Rainbow” has served more than 170 patients and around 300 family members.
Art Therapy Expresses Feelings
Many of the patients and families hope to express their feelings in the deep heart, yet they find it difficult or embarrassing. However, Expressive Art Therapy can help them to express feelings. Through various kinds of activities and art creations, “Life Rainbow” allows patients and families to vent their emotions. For example, patients and families can pick cards written with appreciations and merits and use them to praise each other. They will also feel the freedom and ability of expression through simple art media such as painting and pottery.
It is my blessing to look after my family
Lan-ying received the service of “Life Rainbow” two months before her mother, a patient of liver cancer, died. “Life Rainbow” sent Yokky, a pottery artist, to visit and make crafts with Lan-ying’s mother. During the visit, mom made a Chinese pot which Yokky then took back to her studio and fire. However, mom’s illness had reached the last stage at that moment, so Yokky brought the finished pot to the hospital and gave her.
Lan-ying recalled her memory, saying that her mother was really happy when she opened the lid of the clay. Yokky knows mom loves fried pigeon, therefore Yokky cut a picture of fried pigeon from a magazine and put it inside the pot. Up to now, mom’s smile and satisfaction are still memorable for Yokki. Lan-ying now puts the pot at home and she thinks of her mother and Yokky every time when she looks at it.
Lan-ying experienced the death of her husband, father, and mother, thus understands that everyone definitely goes through birth, aging, sickness, and death. What impressed her a lot is that: It is a blessing if you can do your best to take care of your family. She would try her best to accompany her family when they are still alive.
How to move on when your close relatives pass away?
Both parts are necessary and can deal with grief when adopting at the same time. If you only focus on seeking a new life but not facing your sadness, repressed emotion will collapse one day. On the other hand, if you only indulge in your grief but not stepping forward in your life journey, you will get depression or other mood disorders. Therefore, it is really important for you to strike a balance between the two parts and try to find your feet.
Information is provided by:
LAW Man-chi, registered social worker, Community Rehabilitation Network
