Today we have presented the World Hospice & Palliative Care Day together with “Unidos contra el Cáncer” Association and the City of Malaga.

Raúl Jiménez, Councilor for Social Welfare, was present at the ceremony; with Ana Porras, Technical Director of Social Rights; Marisa Martín, Manager and Medical Director of Cudeca Hospice; Paqui Aguilar, President of ASSAMA; Juan Carmona, President AVOI and José Aldecoa, Manager FMAEC.

World Day of Palliative Care

It is celebrated on Saturday, October 13, whose name is "Because I Matter" is initiated by the World Alliance of Hospice Care WHPCA and supported by the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL) with the objective to defend the importance of palliative care as a human right.

This day also coincides with the centenary of Cicely Saunders, founder of the "hospice" movement and constant inspiration for the Cudeca Foundation, the first hospice in Spain.

The Founder of Palliative Care, Cecily Saunders, wrote this motto more than 50 years ago, which in her words was: "You matter because you are you, and you matter until the end of your life, and we will do everything in our hands and in our hearts to help you live the life that you have left to the end". This is what the Cudeca Cancer Care Hospice demands when celebrating the World Day of Palliative Care, that Palliative Care should be a priority for the leaders, a responsibility of the managers of the health systems, a competence of healthcare professionals, Health and a vindication of all citizens”.

According to current estimates, three out of four people at some point will need palliative care which will improve the quality of life for both the patient and family throughout the final process of the disease and also during the grief period. It is demonstrated that this form of care reduces the suffering of the patient and their loved ones, avoids unnecessary actions and gives priority to the values ​​and preferences of the patient in a moment of special fragility.

Do you want to help CUDECA Hospice? Become a regular donor here: http://donaciones.cudeca.org/en/hazte-socio/

Lighting for Palliative Care
In addition to accompanying the Cudeca Hospice on this special day, the building of the Málaga Town Hall will collaborate by illuminating it facilities in green.

"A Special Kind of Caring"
Cudeca Hospice was born in 1992 thanks to the work and commitment of Joan Hunt, born in England and living on the Costa del Sol. After the death of her husband from cancer, she decided to dedicate her life to helping others who were in a similar situation.

CUDECA  Hospice currently attends more than 1,400 people annually suffering from cancer or other illnesses in advanced stages; and offers support to more than 2,500 family members. All the care offered is completely free.

According to Marisa Martín, Manager and Medical Director of CUDECA, "A disease in an advanced state involves changes and challenges in all aspects of people's lives, so comprehensive care is required. That is why in Cudeca we have different areas of care and assistance programs that offer personalized and continuous care according to the needs of each moment and each person.

Our teams of doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers and physiotherapists take care of every aspect of patient care in detail, respecting their wishes and preferences. To attend to the patient and their family we accompany our medical care with other ways of caring: a massage, a conversation time or a walk in the sun, also help to take care of”.

CUDECA currently attends more than 1,400 people annually suffering from cancer or other illnesses in advanced stages; and offers support to more than 2,500 family members. All the care offered is completely free.

Marisa adds "In the last 5 years the number of patients who need our care at the end of life has doubled and that is why we need the collaboration of everyone by becoming a regular donor, volunteering, donating in our charity shops, organizing a solidarity event or putting a piggy bank in your home or business. We want to continue taking care and for that we need you! Visit www.cudeca.org and help us.
WORLD DAY OF PALLIATIVE CARE October 13, 2018 BECAUSE I MATTER
Marisa Martín, Chief Executive and Medical Director of Cudeca Hospice:

“There cannot be health for all without an integral approach to human suffering. Suffering and death are unique processes, and health professionals have an ethical obligation to understand and address them in all their complexity, to ensure the comfort and dignity of the patient and their family.  The objective of Palliative Care is to assist the patient and their loved ones to live with the least possible suffering, and to live with dignity to the last stage of life. This means that they are responsible for their decisions, retain the ability to transmit their affections and recover the power to enjoy the little things of everyday life, all from their own convictions and values.

The motto this year of the WORLD DAY OF PALLIATIVE CARE, which is celebrated on October 13, is "BECAUSE I MATTER".

Because I matter means that:

• I want to feel no pain
• I want to be able to be at home with my loved ones
• I want to be respected in my dignity, my desires, my decisions
• I want expert and close care
• I want to receive support