Integral to the success of the JCECC Project is the development of two flagship community EoLC models. The Integrated Community End-of-life Care Support Team (ICEST) is one of these models. The ICEST is a community-based service team specialised in providing whole-person care to community-dwelling patients with end-of-life issues and their family members. Through partnership with public hospitals, the ICEST aims to strengthen the community support for patients, promote the quality of life of patients and their family members, and allow patients to spend quality time with their loved ones in a familiar place. ICEST also represents a unified and empirically tested service model derived from the findings on JCECC community-based EoLC models in the first three years of the Project. The ICEST model embraces the core features of:
What is ICESTs
- A unified and standardised model of care;
- Filling gaps (bridging) between available services;
- Seamless collaboration between ICESTs and existing services;
- Need-based targeted interventions;
- Rigorous evidence on the effectiveness, process, and cost-effectiveness;
Target service users of ICESTs
Patients who are diagnosed with terminal diseases, preferably aged 60 or above, as well as their family members. Most patient who were admitted to ICESTs were referred from public hospitals. Occasionally, ICESTs admit patients referred by the community service centres.
3P services of ICESTs
The ICEST is comprised of social workers, nurse, programme/care workers, and volunteers, who collaborate to provide three types of care to patients and families in the community, including physical care, psychosocial care, and practical support. The level of care will be tailored to meet the identified needs of patients and caregivers following standardised and holistic assessments conducted by the ICEST.
Effectiveness of ICESTs
The evaluation on ICESTs in the past 6 years found the service has been very promising in promoting improved patient and family caregiver health outcomes, including reduced physical symptoms, anxiety and depression, and reduced caregiver strain. It was also found that patients in ICESTs stay longer at home than EoLC patients in general. For more information on the effectiveness of ICESTs please visit here.
Contacting ICESTs
Four NGO partners in the JCECC Project, namely St James’ Settlement (SJS), Haven of Hope Christian Service (HOH), Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR), and S.K.H. Holy Carpenter Church District Elderly Community Centre (HCCDECC), are providing ICEST services in various districts.
