Home Visits


Today we had the honor of being invited into people’s homes and watching the palliative care and hospice interdisciplinary team interact.  In addition to the  doctor, nurse, spiritual counselor, the  team included the community health volunteer from the local congregation who visits the patients on a regular basis and requests visits from the team as needed.

Making visits outside of Arusha is no easy task.  The drive is long and the roads are rough.  In fact some roads are so rough that one might not even call it a road.  The team goes on visits together to save on transportation costs.

Although we could not understand all that was said because of the language barrier, it was clear that the patients felt heard, seen and cared for by the team as they sought to meet their physical, psycho-social, and spiritual needs.

There were moments of joy like when Mel Sullivan, a kid magnet played with the younger members of the family and their neighborhood friends and it was hilarious to see a flash mob of the Hokey Pockey! (Mel Sullivan pictured with her new friends)


There were moments of heartbreaking sadness when we heard the 95 year old mother caring for her son say that it is difficult to go to sleep with an empty stomach and hearing the prayer request of a 29 year old woman who asked that I pray for her improved health so her children can live with her again.   (Krista Jannusch pictured with a 95 year old)

Another aspect of their work that some of the team participated in was an outreach clinic that assessed the psycho-social, spiritual and physical needs of 30+ clients all of whom had HIV.  The majority of the clients  primarily widows who were in their 50’s.  All were given medicines such as antibiotics, anti-fungal and pain medicine.  Some conditions the team was unable to treat and referred to a local clinic.

The work of Selian Hospice is impressive.    They bring joy and a comforting presence to their clients.  It was an honor to walk shoulder to shoulder with them in this sacred work of caring for people in the end of life.  (Dr Adda pictured with Mel Sullivan)

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