A family photo, a hand to hold: An occupational therapist learnt what matters most to dying patients

An occupational therapist in Singapore has gained insight into what matters most to dying patients through her work on the palliative care ward at St Luke's Hospital. Esther Lim, a 40-year-old therapist, has observed that many terminally ill patients worry less about their own mortality and more about how their loved ones will cope after they are gone.

Patients have expressed regret about spending too much time on work and neglecting their relationships, and have requested simple wishes such as returning home to spend time with family or holding the hand of their caregiver. Lim noted that occupational therapy goals in palliative care are focused on bringing comfort, exploring meaning, and achieving closure, rather than restoring function.

Simple tasks like holding a hand or creating a legacy project, such as photographs or voice recordings, can provide comfort and connection for patients and their loved ones. Lim shared a story of an elderly patient who asked to hold the hand of his caregiver, who in turn assured him that he was not alone in his journey. This encounter prompted Lim to think about fulfilling patients' last wishes and creating meaningful legacies for their loved ones.