Live comfortably, die peacefully with a healthy lifestyle with Yeun Yen, a social enterprise and non-profit organization that provides palliative care to patients in order to improve their quality of life during the remaining time and to make patients and their families happy without any regrets or regrets later on.
Yoen Yen Social Enterprise Company was founded on the fact that not all cancer patients are cured and not all patients want to fight the treatment. It is not just the physical pain but also the cost of blood tests, x-rays, injections, etc. The company therefore supports palliative care at home to reduce the cost to the healthcare system and improve the quality of life of patients.
Now, I will take everyone to learn about another perspective on treatment, which is a truth that many people know but do not accept. Not everyone can be cured of cancer and not everyone wants to be treated. What many patients want after finding out they have cancer is to have a warm life surrounded by their family, have a happy life and pass away peacefully. We will learn how this company did it through an interview with Professor Dr. Issarang Nuchprayoon, founder of Yuenyen Social Enterprise and professor of the Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University.
beginning
The doctor started as a pediatric oncologist. Cancer is a disease that is difficult to completely cure. Only 50-60% of patients who receive treatment are cured. This means that the other 40% are those who receive treatment with the hope of being cured, but are disappointed with the treatment. They take medicine and seem to be cured, but in the end, the disease comes back. They all die of disappointment. The doctor therefore began to think that instead of them having to suffer because the treatment did not cure them, why not improve their quality of life while they are still alive?
“Instead of focusing on unsuccessful treatments, we should focus on people’s lives and quality of life.”
The cure for a complete cure has changed to fulfilling the quality of life for the patient to be as happy as possible while he is still alive. This type of treatment is called Palliative Care. But the doctor himself calls this type of treatment Chivaphiban, which is living a happy life, living a life without thinking much about whether the cure will be complete or not. Just do the patient’s best today and fulfill what he lacks during his life.
“Adults get cancer more often than children and have a lower chance of recovery than children.”
The doctor discovered the truth that adults have cancer a hundred times more than children, and it is harder to cure than children. When he discovered this truth, the doctor began to research and had the opportunity to talk to elderly people with cancer. He learned that most of them just want to live peacefully, have their children by their side, and live peacefully with cancer, following the concept of “live comfortably and die peacefully.”
Sometimes the thoughts of the patient and the relatives are not the same.
Even though sometimes the patient is ready to leave, what they want is to live their remaining life peacefully, without suffering and happily, but the patient’s relatives do not always think the same way. Sometimes the relatives do not want to encounter the loss and want to stay with and cure the patient until he or she is completely cured. Before receiving palliative care, the relatives and the patient must talk to each other at the patient’s home first so that everyone can truly understand the patient’s feelings and needs.
Palliative process
After discussing what will happen if we do not receive treatment, there will be no more discussion about life and death. It will be about what the patient wants from now on, what they want in life, what they want to do that they have not done yet, such as what their current life goals are, what they want to add, what they must do before they die. Together, they think and plan to complete the patient’s life before they are gone, so that everyone will not have to sit and regret it when it is too late.
From research to social enterprise
The doctor said that he personally did not know how to do business. At first, it was like doing charity work. After that, he started selling the idea of caring for patients who had the courage, but it did not mean fighting with treatment, but fighting with living life to the fullest today. And this idea was presented to Cheevamitr. At that time, there were no social enterprises. So the doctor was advised to make it an organization or business, which was better and more sustainable than doing it for charity.
“Doctor, don’t do it for free.”
Giving help here is a valuable help. Fulfilling the needs of patients is not a help without value. Therefore, the doctor was advised not to do it for free. Otherwise, both the doctor and the organization itself will not survive. Being an organization does not mean seeking profit only. The organization can also find money to cover expenses while at the same time doing charity.
If I am interested in using the service, what should I do?
If anyone is interested, they can contact us through channels such as Facebook or Line. We will provide advice based on the symptoms and needs of the patient. We will make an appointment with the patient and family to talk and reach a mutual understanding. If the patient and family are still interested, we will provide advice on care and housing according to the patient’s suitability and needs.
“Cost is not a factor in determining whether or not a service can be provided.”
The cost of the service will be estimated at approximately 5,000 baht per family, or if you do not have enough money, you may pay less. Or if you have more money and want to support the organization or help other patients, you can pay more. The extra money will be used to help families who do not have enough money.
From the beginning to today
In the first year, there were about 50 patients interested in using the service. The following year, it increased to 75 and then to 100 the following year. The number of patients has been growing steadily. More and more people have contacted me for help with this matter. In the future, the doctor believes that palliative care will be the path that patients themselves need the most. If the relatives can respect the patient’s decision, it means that the relatives have helped the patient to the fullest. The patient is the owner of their life. Because this type of care uses very few resources. In addition to improving the quality of life for the patient and their family, it also reduces the cost of the patient’s entire medical system.
Conclusion
Anyone who wants to start a social enterprise means that you are a visionary. The desire to help make society better is the core, but running a social enterprise requires good cost management. Because providing sustainable assistance means that the giver must be able to help themselves. It is not a donation, but a business that allows them to support themselves and help society at the same time.
“Time is uncertain. It doesn’t matter how much time is left. Just do your best today.”
“Live comfortably, die peacefully” with a healthy lifestyle with Yeun Yen Social Enterprise Co., Ltd. | The Practical Sustainability “Friend” Enterprise of Society
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Contact channels
Yuenyen Social Enterprise Co., Ltd. Website: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yuenyenSE/ Tel.: 0080 776 6712
Supported by the Office of Social Enterprise Promotion (OSEP)
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