This week (6^th to 12^th October) is Hospice Care Week and, to celebrate, St Wilfrid’s Hospice patients are sharing their stories.

Organised by Hospice UK, the national champion for hospices, the awareness week is a chance to shine a spotlight on hospices and their amazing staff. This year’s theme is ‘hospice care is more than you think’.

Louise Townsend, one of our Rehabilitation Assistants, said: “A lot of people think that hospice care is all about dying on our Inpatient Unit. But it’s so much more than that. It’s helping people with life-limiting illnesses to manage their symptoms and give them a better quality of life for as long as possible; it’s arranging for a therapy dog to visit a canine-loving patient; and it’s our chef baking a loaf of bread for a patient who is missing their special homemade recipe.”

Hospice care is also going to people’s homes to help them get their strength back. When Louise first met Marilyn, she was housebound and sleeping in a recliner chair. With Louise’s help, Marilyn is now up and moving. “The team has enabled me to walk, access the community and build confidence,” Marilyn said. “It’s made a difference to my mental wellbeing, freedom, acceptance about my illness and boosted my confidence.”

Another community patient, Chris, is a regular user of our Living Well services. He said: “Going to different hospice therapy groups helps with my general wellbeing. It’s not about getting better, it’s about keeping going the best I can while I can and making the most of my time left by keeping as fit as I can. The people who run the Living Well Drop-In group are pure gold and make us feel we are not alone.”

Louise said: “We’re pleased to celebrate Hospice Care Week. It’s the ideal way to tell people more about the wide range of support we offer in the hospice and out in the community. We’d also like to thank Marilyn and Chris for sharing their stories about the difference our team has made to their lives.”

Pictured:

1) Louise with Chris in the hospice gym

2) Our team helps Marilyn in her own home

Find out more about Living Well