Hospice centre brings terminal care into central Riga

A day hospice centre for elderly and terminally ill people opened in late April at the intersection of Brīvības and Merķeļa streets in central Riga, LSM reported. Its managers say that people who can no longer move around freely because of illness still have the right to remain part of city life.

The centre is operated by Hospiss Māja. Board member Ilze Zosule said its location was chosen after the organisation noticed that the State Blood Donor Centre accepts visitors around the corner and that a State Social Insurance Agency customer service office is nearby.

Hospiss Māja took part in a rental-rights auction organised by the State Real Estate Agency and obtained the premises at what Zosule described as a very affordable price. The organisation saw an opportunity to create a social services centre in the heart of the city, accessible by public transport, on foot or by private car.

Zosule also highlighted the building’s accessibility. Many central Riga buildings have one or two steps at their entrances, while the historic building known as Sakta has none, making it easier for patients to visit. She said the location also allows people to access other necessary services nearby.

The centre serves hospice patients whose care at home is made more difficult by their health and social circumstances. An average of three people, and no more than four, visit each day.

“We do not want it to feel like an anthill. Instead, we want people to feel that they receive individual attention. When each person arrives, we assess them individually and understand what they need at that moment,” said Madara Nire, the head of Hospiss Māja’s day centre.

The first hospices were established in monasteries, where monks cared for people with incurable illnesses. The word “hospice” comes from Latin and means “hospitable reception” or “lodging”. Its modern meaning, referring to a place for elderly and terminally ill people, became established in English in the late 19th century.