Hospitals are about curing disease, but palliative care facilities like Agape House in Paget are about providing comfort to patients facing the end of their lives.As World Hospice and Palliative Care Day approaches on Saturday, The Royal Gazette spoke to Agape House support charity Friends of Hospice, about the services offered by Agape House and the many volunteers and therapists who work to make patients’ lives a little brighter.“Palliative care is a specialised form of medicine that enhances the quality of life of patients and their families who are faced with serious and generally terminal illness…often with no prospect of cure,” said Dr Sharon Alikhani, Lead Physician at Agape House. “It focuses on increasing comfort through prevention and treatment of distressing symptoms. In addition to expert symptom management, palliative care focuses on clear communication, advance planning, and coordination of care. In practice what this means is that we meet patients and families who are often very vulnerable, scared and suffering on some level, and by addressing all their problems we try and restore balance and quality in their lives.”With his fuzzy blond visage and cold wet nose, you could call Murphy Bergl one of the hidden faces of palliative care. Murphy is a golden retriever who belongs to Gill Bergl. He is one of several therapy dogs bringing joy to Agape House patients. He was trained by Eileen Thorne, who has her own therapy dog, a Doberman called Magnum.“When the therapy dogs come, the dog lovers get so excited,” said Sarah Dunstan Executive Director of Friends of Hospice. “Murphy is amazing. It is interesting to see Murphy work. He seems to know who needs his care. He will go right to the patient or the family member who is struggling at the time. He will put his head on their lap or just sit there. He is really well behaved.”Sometimes patients don’t like dogs or are a little fearful. The dogs are never forced on them, but if they come across them in a common area, they will often start to warm up and ask to touch the dogs.“They are such gentle animals,” said Ms Dunstan. “It is a programme that doesn’t get highlighted often but it does make a difference. Friends of Hospice offers a number of programmes and services that really aim to improve the quality of life of the patients.”For example, they organise companion volunteers to regularly visit with patients, who sometimes don’t get many visitors.“It makes such a difference to have someone in the room, whether they are just holding the patient’s hand, carrying on a conversation, playing cards or watching a video,” Ms Dunstan said. “We have a chef who can make personalised meals for the patient based on their needs and desires. We have a life appreciation programme and we celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. It really is a more uplifting place than you would think. There is also a grief counselling programme run by Kare Dyer. She works with people in Agape House, their families, and also people who come to Agape House once a week as part of our day programme.”Patients are referred to the day programme and enjoy the services of art therapy, massage, yoga and meditation, among other things. They receive lunch and take part in different activities.“There are so many different things that go on,” said Ms Dunstan. “It is really a well rounded programme.”She said unfortunately there was still a stigma associated with Agape House and hospice care.“It’s not a death sentence,” she said. “Some patients get better and go home.“We have had some patients who have been discharged, and come back through the day programme. They tell us that when they first got the news that they were going to Agape House, they thought ‘this is the end’. They really struggled against it mentally and physically and didn’t want to go. When they got there they discovered that the focus of hospice care is the individual rather than the disease. They really open up to it. The staff are so friendly.”She said often patients refer to the nurses as “angels” because of the level of care and amount of one-on-one attention they receive. It can be a bit of a blessing for families also as family members can come and go at any time. There are no visiting hour restrictions.“I think the stigma is there and will continue to be there, but it does dissipate when they realise the level of care they are going to have,” said Ms Dunstan.On October 27, Friends of Hospice has organised a Walk to Remember in the Botanical Gardens in Paget next to Agape House.“It is a short walk so anyone can participate,” Ms Dunstan said. “There is no entry fee, but there are pledge sheets available at www.friendsofhospice.bm.“It is a great way for people to come together and remember loved ones that have been lost,” said Ms Dunstan.