Creative Family Saturdays

Creative Family Saturday’s happen every 4 weeks at the Hospice, run by Nell Mellerick our Creative Artist, Julie Annis our Activities Coordinator and a team of Creative Arts volunteers.  It is a two hour session for patients to come along with their families and carers and be creative!  It empowers our patients to be able to complete a project with their families and carers and promote wellbeing through creative expression. 

 ‘It was so nice to have that time with my daughter.  I think it really changed her perception of what the Hospice is, it gave me a reason to bring her here.’ Kate

 Patients are also learning new skills giving much needed self esteem and sense of achievement.  IT also offers an option for Hospice patients to access Creative Arts outside of the unusual working week.  A lot of patients find this means they don’t have to take their children/ grandchildren out of school to access the session. 

 ‘Lottie (6) and Georgia (2) enjoyed a morning felting at the Hospice. Being able to spend time with their granddad doing something fun gave the girls something positive to tell people and beautiful moments to keep in their memories.’ – A patient’s daughter who attended the session with her Dad and her children.

We have created many things in our previous sessions including: pottery painting; mask making; easter trees; felting and many more crafts besides. 

 ‘I recently spent a night offering nightcare to a patient, Andy, who was at end of life and has sadly now died.  But I sat up all night with Andy chatting and watching tv and we talked about lots of things.  Andy spoke a lot about his family and he told me that he had been very close to his eldest grand-daughter, now 11, but when he became poorly and she was told he had cancer, she stopped going to see him as she found it too difficult.  This obviously was very sad for Andy but he completely understood.  

On the next Creative Family Saturday session, Andy's daughter took Andy and other members of their family, including all the grandchildren, along.  Andy said that they all enjoyed their day and had fun together, and from that day his eldest grand-daughter started to see him at home again and was a constant visitor.  Andy was so grateful to the Hospice for getting the family together on that day and this enabled him to resume his relationship with his grand-daughter, which gave him a lot of comfort. This showed to me just how important the family Saturday sessions are and how they can make such a big difference to families.’ – Becky, Health Care Assistant.

 

 At the next Creative Family Saturday we are getting ready for Christmas and making cards!  So if you are a Hospice in the Weald patient come and join us!

Kate's Story

You may have read Kate's story in our Autumn newsletter.  We have received emails from supporters that have been truly touched by Kate's Hospice experience so, for those of you that may have missed it, we wanted to share her story again today... 

Kate’s Story - Nothing but Support 

‘My first experience of the Hospice was as an outpatient.

I attended counselling sessions to help me with accepting how I felt about my diagnosis.  These visits allowed me to address my fears about crossing the threshold of the place I have decided I want to end my days.

I was given access to reflexology and met Nell, the Creative Artist, to work on a personal project for my daughter.

I was then referred to the Hospice Day Service.  On my first day, because I look so well volunteers and patients greeted me as a new volunteer helper.  I felt such a fraud and felt other people should take my place.  Nonetheless I was encouraged to come back, for which I am so grateful.

One of the biggest benefits of attending the Day Service is the support you gain from your peers.  It has made me realize that terminal cancer is not the worst thing that could happen to a person and I have gained so much strength and inspiration from other patients.

There has been so much fun and laughter around the craft table.  We also have access to reflexology, reiki, hairdressing and manicures to benefit body image issues, counselling and the opportunity to see a nurse each week to discuss any health issues and symptoms.The Gathering run by Liza, the Chaplain at the Hospice is non-denominational and so even spiritual people like myself can attend and just take the time for reflection.

I have also had the opportunity to discuss my funeral plans, which have been very important to me to get organised.

I have attended a Creative Family Saturday session, on a Saturday morning with my daughter.  This was very beneficial as I think she had pre-conceived an idea, like many people do, of what a Hospice is.

I am continuing to work on a scrapbook of memories for my family and friends and am so grateful I can do such important things away from home with people that understand my need for preparation without upsetting my family.'

New Volunteer Roles

In the Hospice Day Service (HDS) we have six new volunteer roles.  They are called ‘Extended Role Volunteers’.  The Extended Role Volunteers will be in uniform and have received training to assist the nursing staff with things such as personal care, feeding and transferring patients.  They will undergo practical supervision by our nurses to complete their competencies.

 ‘It just seemed so logical to be one of these volunteers, to help with small tasks when the nursing staff can be so busy.  Sometimes we have a small number of professional staff with a large number of patients and it feels great to be able to help them instead of feeling frustrated we couldn’t.’ Sarah, a new Extended Role Volunteer. 

‘I started volunteering at the hospice as a general HDS Volunteer as I wanted to give something back to the community.  With the new role I feel our life experience is valued and we have clear goals.  We’re just ordinary people, which I think helps with relating to the patients.’ Steph, a new Extended Role Volunteer. 

‘Lots of our volunteers have a lot of experience and it’s nice for them to develop their own role.  It has made us more of a team, working together!  The help they will be giving us across the week is invaluable.’ Vanessa, Health Care Assistant.

Photography on the River

Some of our HDS patients were taken out for the day on the Kingfisher boat cruising up the River Medway.

‘The Kingfisher Medway Trust is a registered charity. It was set up to commission the building of a boat, which would provide river trips for disadvantaged people of all ages.

She was designed by a marine architect and constructed to meet all necessary safety requirements and is licensed to carry a maximum of 12 passengers.

A team of qualified skippers and trained crew members, all volunteers, operate the boat on its trips from her berth at Wateringbury on the river Medway.’ – www.kingfishermedwaytrust.org.uk

After being safely driven to the Marina by our mini bus driver for the day Lissie (onw of our Health Care Assistants) we were all surprised by how easy it was to get on to the boat with the use of the fabulous lift.

Once we were seated comfortably and made a cup of tea by the wonderful crew, Nell Mellerick, the Creative Artist at the Hospice, handed out cameras.  The patients had great fun using them, to capture life on the river.  We saw so much, swans, dragonflies, fishermen, moorhens, the occasional fish, some beautiful canal boats and we even caught a few glimpses of a kingfisher!

Some beautiful photographs were taken and a yummy pack lunch provided by our wonderful catering team at the Hospice.

Nina, one of our Day Service patients had never been on a boat before in her life, ‘It was fantastic!  Everyone was so helpful and lovely.  We saw many things and I found the journey so relaxing and peaceful to be on the water.  The crew were fabulous and even let me steer the boat for a little while!’

A big thank you to the crew of the Kingfisher and to Lissie, our driver for the day!  Look out for the photographs being exhibited at the hospice some time soon.