Palliative care charity Omega 90 sees increase in patients

116 patients were cared for at the charity's palliative centre Haus Omega last year while the charity offered counselling appointments to over 4,600 people - a third of whom were children. 814 people underwent training in palliative care, said the charity at their annual press conference on Thursday.

The need for child psychologists is increasing, as evidenced by their counselling demands. Co-director Nicole Weis-Liefgen said, "Not a week goes by without our childcare professionals receiving calls from crèche or childcare staff requiring help in counselling a child in their care who has lost a relative. The staff often don't have the training to deal with it, or they need support themselves. We hold training workshops but we often get the impression we can't hold enough sessions because of a lack of staff."

The charity also offers what they call a "grief suitcase", with information and advice to help give teaching staff the necessary skills.

Haus Omega: 116 patients in 2023 

The average age of patients accommodated at the Haus Omega hospice continues to drop. In 2018 and 2019 the average age was 76; these days, it's 70. The majority of patients today are aged between 50 and 60; however, the hospice also cares for young people in their 20s and more elderly people in their late 80s. 90% of patients suffer from cancer.

Haus Omega remains popular and is open to all, says president Diane Dhur, "We wanted to emphasise that patients don't need to be referred by a doctor or a hospital to come here. The family or patient themselves can contact us and we'll act according to their wishes and needs, checking if admission is possible."

One positive observation in recent months is that patients are coming to the hospice at later stages, meaning they can be looked after at home for longer. Although some people prefer to pass away at home, it is often not feasible depending on their health and care requirements.

Volunteers needed 

The charity currently employs 61 people, but it cannot function without volunteers. Although Omega 90 has 72 active volunteers, the number falls short by far. Volunteers have to attend a 200-hour training course which starts in the autumn.

In 2023, the organisation spent 8 million euros on its services. Although the bulk is supported by the National Health Fund and the Ministry of Family, the charity received 560,000 euros in donations, without which it cannot function.

Modernising processes with important documents

At the end of life, there are a number of important documents that must be filled out. In particular, the patient is required to name an official trusted person "personne de confiance" and must complete a disposition and advance directive confirming end of life care.

Co-director of Omega 90, Fabien Weiser, said the process should be simplified,
"These documents should be able to be submitted electronically. These days it's technically possible to upload these documents to Guichet and use them in case of an emergency, and it would contact all the right people at the right time. It would also help people to know what to do in these situations."