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

Esther Lim, an occupational therapist at St Luke’s Hospital, helps people nearing the end of life find comfort, fulfil personal wishes and make meaningful memories for loved ones. Her work reflects how patients’ priorities can shift: many worry about how family will cope, seek to reconnect with someone, or regret spending too little time with people they love.

Patients in the palliative care ward generally have a prognosis of three months or less and may have advanced cancer, organ failure or neurological conditions. Lim’s role is less focused on restoring independence and more on easing symptoms, adapting daily tasks and supporting closure. Patients’ wishes can be simple, from going home or making a family photo to holding someone’s hand; a hospital social worker advises that reconciliation should be gentle and never forced.