CARING LIGHT PROGRAM FOCUS
Since its founding (1995) and registration (2001) as a non-profit organization has had but one program in mind that would address the psychosocial, emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual needs of those providing care to others in the community through the implementation of three specifically and intentionally designed and developed strategies named projects. The
se are presented in length further on in this document. Caring Light is an innovative key role player contributing to the advancement of emotional, spiritual, physical, intellectual and psychosocial care and support in the development of Community Health Care workers who are:
• Home Based Carers
• HIV and AIDS ARV Patient Advocates
• TB Treatment Supporters
• Lay Counsellors
• Hospice Staff and Volunteers
AREA OF FOCUS
Caring Light is a service provider offering training to health related service providers such as:
• Non - Government Organizations
• Non Profit Organizations
• Community Based Org.
• Faith Based Organizations
The approximate number of carers are difficult to indicate with accuracy since staff change organizations, leave, retire and die, however, a number of carers can with certainty be estimated at 2000. In accordance with the 2010 Health Care Program, which states that, “In order to Improve the quality of health care for everyone in the Western Cape the Department of Health has committed itself to a long-term strategic plan called Healthcare 2010.This plan aims to reshape public health services in the Western Cape to focus on primary-level services, community-based care and preventative care. Caring Light is a training and care service provider. CARING LIGHT PROGRAM IMPLEMENTS 5 STRATEGIES NAMED PROJECTS, though funding if required for only four of these namely:
PROJECT ONE
EXPERIENTIAL, EDUCATIONAL TRAINING PROGRAM ON THE SUBJECT OF THE HOLISTIC PROCESSES ENCOUNTERED BY THE PATIENT, FAMILY AND THE CARER WHEN FACING A LIFE THREATENING DISEASE, DYING AND GRIEF. THIS IS BEING OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND AFRIKAANS AS WELL AS ISIXHOSA. MOTIVATION
Most people have difficulties dealing with dying, death and grief related issues owing to ignorance and the unnatural fear of it. Cultural and religious differences contributes to community friction and disharmonious living. Community Health Care Workers are special people with little or no formal training who are required to take care of the sick of whom mostly are experiencing life threatening illnesses for example cancer, AIDS and TB. The carers are skilled to deal with the dynamic of these diseases, however lack the emotional,spiritual and intellectual skills and psychosocial strategies with which to cope with their own experiences within the family, are now facing the added emotional trauma of having to assist others, their patients and their families to cope with the burden of dying, death and grief. Many workers are lost to the practice simply because the cannot cope and suffer emotional burnout. This is a huge financial loss incurred in human resources. This project addresses these issues providing skills, awareness, the facts (truths as opposed to myths, perceptions), strategies which equips and empowers the caregivers, patients and the patient’s families both personally and professionally. CAPACITY x20 seminars x 20 delegates total 400 at a cost of R10 000 each in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa. An empowerment 164 paged training manual is available in both English and isiXhosa. LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Describe and understand the holistic dying process
• Understand and help with the needs of the dying
• Describe and understand the holistic grief process
• Understand the needs of grieving people
• Recognize the difference between support and counselling
• Identify different approaches, strategies of care and support to those who are bereaved.
• Identify how their own self-awareness will impact on their work with both the dying and the bereaved.
• Become demystified about
*The cremation process
*The grieving process
*The dying Process
*The counselling process
*The care and support process
• Acquire how to skills in the face of dying and death as well as grief
• Become empowered by the experience and knowledge acquired
• Become enthused about their work and rededicate and pledge their loyal support to the organizations they serve.
• Dealing with unfinished business on your deathbed
• Become emotionally free of past damaged human emotions that have caused a barrier in their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health.
• Be informed and empowered by an increased understanding of death practices of other cultures and religions thereby increasing intercultural/religious tolerance and acceptance resulting in harmonious and peaceful living within our mixed communities.
