6th–12th October is Hospice Care Week, a national campaign organised by Hospice UK to highlight the importance of end of life care. This year its theme is ‘Hospice Care is more than you think’.
Many people aren’t aware of the breadth of services that hospice care organisations offer, or the support they give to people earlier in their diagnoses. Phyllis Tuckwell supports its patients to maintain their independence and live life as fully as possible, for as long as they can. Patients may have symptoms such as pain, fatigue or breathlessness, which can be managed through medication, physiotherapy or occupational therapy sessions, or complementary therapy treatments. They may also need practical support or equipment at home, to help them continue to do the things that are important to them.
Caption: A therapy pony visits one of Phyllis Tuckwell’s Living Well sessions.
Not all of Phyllis Tuckwell’s patients are in their last days. Some need help managing everyday life, and are supported through Living Well sessions which cover topics such as Living with Illness and Remaining Active. Sessions also offer activities including Therapy through Nature and Confidence through Cooking, and regularly include visits from local organisations such as schools, choirs, musicians, and pet therapists. These visits enable patients to engage in activities unconnected with their illness, interact with others, and share knowledge, skills and enjoyment. The team have also organised several trips for patients and carers to see music tribute acts, such as George Michael and Abba, boosting patients' wellbeing and confidence, and making them feel a part of society again.
Building a professional and social support network is important too. At its coffee afternoons, Phyllis Tuckwell’s patients and carers can meet others, build friendships and find peer support, while its carer support sessions offer information and advice on financial and practical matters, such as claiming benefits and applying for blue badges.
As their illness progresses, many patients prefer to be cared for in their own homes, and to spend their last days there. Visits from Phyllis Tuckwell’s Hospice at Home team provide them and their loved ones with all the support they need. For those who are cared for on its In-Patient Unit, loved ones can visit at any time, and can stay by patients' bedsides overnight, on fully reclining chairs. Pets can visit too, bringing comfort and joy to patients and enabling them to say a last goodbye.
Phyllis Tuckwell also offers training sessions to other local healthcare providers, including care home staff, to support them to provide the best care for their patients. Schools are supported too, in providing bereavement care to students whose loved one has died.
Hospice Care really is more than most people think.
All our services are free, but this is only possible due to the generosity of our amazing community. The Government/NHS only provide 25% of our costs, so we need to raise over £25,000 every day to provide our vital services.
Please donate what you can to help keep hospice care available to all those in our community who need us.
