Breathlessness is a common symptom for patients with advanced lung disease. For 65 year-old Mdm Hoe Sau Fong, she used to have slight breathlessness due to asthma, but it worsened significantly in the recent years and the doctor diagnosed her with severe lung disease in June 2023.
She felt helpless and scared when episodes of bad breathlessness happened, and she would rush to the hospital emergency department when she felt her chest tightening and was struggling to breathe. This would usually result in a hospital stay, where the doctors and nurses would work to optimise symptom control and her functional lung capacity before discharge.
After being discharged to home, she would spend her days in bed and sat out only for meals and showers. She spent most of her time watching Youtube or playing handphone games.
She said, “I was scared that I would become breathless when I move around. Time passed very slowly. I was just struggling to survive and had given up hope.”
Mdm Hoe came under the care of Assisi Hospice Day Care in October 2023. She joined our STEP programme, which assists and supports patients with chronic progressive respiratory disease in their management of symptoms and optimisation of function, empowering them with self-management strategies. Our doctor conducts regular medical review to provide timely control of her symptoms of breathlessness and pain. Our physiotherapist prescribes exercises customised to her ability and works together with her to scale the exercise intensity and level of exertion. Our social worker supports her emotionally, while our therapists from the Care team take time to understand her personality, interests and challenges she is facing.
In the first six months after she came under our care, she rushed to the hospital emergency department only once, which was a decrease compared to three times in the six months before she came to Assisi Hospice Day Care. Initially, she was only able to walk 10 metres with the rollator frame and required assistance in most activities of daily living. Now, she can now walk and perform daily activities independently at home.
Mdm Hoe was a homemaker who enjoyed cooking, and also used to do a variety of sports. However, she was anxious and reluctant to try out new activities when she first joined us. Now, she participates actively in the art therapy group, cooking interest group and music therapy relaxation group in Day Care.
She said, “I come to Day Care five times a week. My son feels that I’ve became stronger, and I feel stronger too! The staff here are very caring, and they have the heart to help.”
Ms Sheena Low, Assisi Hospice’s Day Care Manager said, “The STEP programme aims to support patients with advanced lung disease to live at home, and to reduce their re-admission rates to the emergency department. We provide person-centered care, tailoring our rehabilitation approach to support the patient and family’s needs. Beyond the underlying respiratory condition, breathing, thinking, and functioning affect the extent of breathlessness experienced. We offer both pharmacological approach and non-pharmacological techniques to reduce symptom burden.”
Assisi Hospice’s Day Care team assists and supports patients with chronic progressive respiratory disease in their management of symptoms and optimisation of function, empowering them with self-management strategies.
