Help the Hospices helps to raise the profile of end of life care and educate and support those working in palliative care

Darrell and I came into contact with our local hospice, St Michael's, in the final weeks of his life, one year on from his terminal diagnosis.  Initially they provided in home alternative therapy to Darrell, helping to divert his mind from the pain and his increasingly home bound life. 

Contact with their Hospice at Home service was short, but vital to enabling Darrell to die in the comfort, dignity and love of his own home.  We met the team on the Thursday, making plans for the weeks ahead.  Sadly, Darrell became very ill on the Friday and died on the Sunday.  The hospice service was part of the team who responded rapidly to enable Darrell's (and my) wish for him to die at home to still happen. 

Contact from the hospice did not end with Darrell's death: they called me in the days after his death to find out how I was and called on several other occasions.  I was invited along to a bereavement group and know that I could still get in touch with them if I needed to.  The hospice movement is concerned with the care of the whole person and their family, friends and loved ones.