While many hospitals are restricting visits by patients’ families amid the spread of COVID-19 infections, one facility in Nagoya has been making efforts to let patients with palliative care needs meet their family members as often as possible.
On an afternoon in early February at Minami Seikyo Hospital’s ward for patients undergoing palliative treatment, which is treatment for those without the prospect of recovery, Mihoko Hoshihara, a 62-year-old nurse, was speaking to a 99-year-old woman lying on a bed.
“This was made by a volunteer,” Hoshihara said, holding a traditional hina doll made of origami paper with colorful patterns. She was handing dolls to each of the 20 patients at the ward.