A Reflective and Relaxing Place

We took the opportunity to take a few photographs of the tranquil space that is our Quiet Garden.

'It's lovely to see Marguerite and Jo enjoying some time in our Quiet Garden, which has been looking really sunny and beautiful in these summer months. The décor is now completed thanks to Brian Bodkin (Creative Arts volunteer) and our volunteer gardeners always take trouble to keep it looking pretty and colourful . 

The Quiet Garden has a lovely flowing water feature which is always enjoyed and provides a quiet private space for patients, their carers, families and friends, to relax. Our equally lovely Quiet Room  looks out onto this Garden and all are welcome to visit and use either, when coming to the hospice. 

Spiritual care is an important part of the holistic care we provide and we hope these are places where all can find some peace and inspiration in the midst of challenging times.  The chaplaincy team is here to offer you support and a listening ear so do not hesitate to ask if you wish to speak with one of us  when you visit.'

Liza Waller 

Chaplain

What Not to Say

This week one of our patients, Kate, and a group of her peers worked together to produce the do’s and don’t of what to say and do, written specially for our blog.

I attend the Hospice Day Service one day a week, and one day myself and other patients were discussing around the craft table things we found irritating, upsetting and some almost amusing (in a macabre way), that people say or do when they know you are terminally ill.

Please find below a list we as a group created of things NOT to say:

1.     Don’t spout things like

‘You’re on a journey’,

‘You must fight’,

‘Don’t give up’ and ‘you’re so brave’.

We are only brave because there is no other choice.

2.     Just because I may have difficulty communicating does not mean I am daft!

3.     Saying ‘You look well, you would never know there was anything wrong!’  Especially when you feel horrible.

4.     Telling us ‘you must remain positive.  Anyone I have ever met with a life limiting illness has always been really positive!’  Everyone deals with his or her illness differently.

5.     Please do not tell us the story about your uncle’s neighbour’s cousin, who had the same disease we do and had a horribly painful and tragic death.  This does not make us feel any better!

6.     Friends, please tell us exactly when you want to meet up.  We know it can be difficult to cope with seeing us ill, but sometimes we can’t make simple decisions such as when to meet, so don’t say to us ‘We’ll sort out a time to meet later’.

7.     When having difficulty communicating please don’t speak over us or say ‘I can’t understand what you are saying’ and walk away without trying.

8.     The worst thing you could ever say to us or another terminally ill patient is ‘Anyone of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow!’
We may feel that today it could be you under the bus!

Thank you for reading this and we hope it makes it easier for you to talk to anyone you know who may have a life limiting illness.

Kate

Kerry's Story

Kerry Harrison 

Advanced Practitioner / Head of Hospice Day Service (HDS)

I started in my role in February 2012 in what was “Day Therapy” my first impressions were of a friendly team of staff and volunteers.  Patients attended weekly but there did not appear to be very much structure to their day and no specific goals set with them for attending.

I quickly saw that patients referred to Day Therapy have problems in 3 main categories -:

• ·       Cancer
• ·       Neurological diseases (MND, Parkinson’s, MS)
• ·       Long term Chronic conditions (heart failure, chronic chest conditions, kidney failure)

Realising that “one size service does not fit all”, it became clear that to be able to meet the individual needs of patients, families and carers the Care Model required needed to be much more flexible and underpinned by Therapy.  Our aim is to support patients to be as independent and have the best quality of life irrespective of their illness.

In November 2013 Day Therapy closed and was re-launched as Hospice Day Service

In April 2013, 167 patients attended Day Therapy compared to 268 in April 2014 and this number continues to rise, meaning we are helping more people.

HDS are now offering “Drop In Sessions” Tuesday 11:00 -12:30 and Thursday 14:00 – 15:30.

These sessions are for patients under the care of Hospice in the Weald to attend with their carer’s, no pre booking required (01892 820509 for enquiries).

Carer support information is on offer and there is range of interesting topics covered including, hand massage, quiz’s, gentle exercise and much more.

Once a month Nell our Creative Artist runs a Saturday Morning “Family Creative Session” where patients and families, including children (of ALL ages!!!) can come together to get messy and create all sorts of different projects. These sessions are fun and patients are finding them very beneficial, it also encourages children to come to the hospice and not be afraid of it.

As well as 1:1 support including symptom control, advance care planning, counselling, music therapy, complementary therapy, physiotherapy, there are group activities-:

• ·       Creative Expression Group.
• ·       Fatigued Group ( helpful hints and techniques for managing fatigue)
• ·       Falls Group ( prevention and management)
• ·       Visiting Artist workshops.
• ·       Spiritual gatherings
• ·       Craft Group

Coming soon….. Mindfulness Meditation, Breath Easy and Hearty Matters Groups.

I am lucky to have a fantastic team to work with in HDS, which includes, staff nurses, healthcare assistants, therapists, creative artist, administrator and a myriad of Volunteers who support us on a daily basis without whom we could not provide the service. 

Wherever possible patients are requested to find their own transport to HDS but in circumstances where this is not possible we have a team of Volunteer Drivers, and ambulances are used for more poorly patients.

If anyone reading this is interested in becoming a volunteer in HDS (especially driving patients) please contact Julia.cronin@hospiceintheweald.org.uk

Finally there are messages on this blog from patients telling their stories and experiences, if you have anything to add please do comment or contact nell.mellerick@hospiceintheweald.org.uk

A BIG THANK YOU to all the HDS Team and Volunteers

Regards

Kerry
Head of Hospice Day Service