HOLISTIC care is crucial when caring for someone. Whether it be providing care and nurture for our parents or children, a well-rounded approach leads to better outcomes for their well-being.
By considering the whole person, rather than just isolated symptoms, holistic care yields a higher quality of life, improved outcomes, and a greater sense of dignity – and well-being for the individual and their family.
This also applies to healthcare. When one is diagnosed with an illness, it is common to focus on treating the symptoms alone. But by addressing all aspects of the patient’s life, one can empower the patient to better navigate the hurdles of the illness.
Nurse Maheswari Jaganathan can attest to this. As a specialist in oncology and palliative, the Perak native has seen how financial and emotional inadequacy hinder underprivileged women in their fight with breast cancer.
“Many women delay or abandon treatment not because they are unaware, but because they feel alone. Sometimes it is the fear of being a burden to their families, the cost of travel or stigma in the community. Breast cancer is not just a medical issue – it is deeply social, emotional and systematic,” she told theSun.
