St Catherine’s Hospice provide important care in our community. It’s not something that we like to talk about but allowing people to be dignified and comfortable in their last days is not only something we all deserve, but can make the grieving process somewhat easier for friends and relatives. 

St Catherine’s allow care to be personalised, last year, their support allowed my grandad is final wish: to pass away in his own home. They made him comfortable and relieved his pain. He spent the last few days of his life believing he was back working on a building site in the 80s, calling the (female) nurses ‘Dave’ and giving them instructions. 

In 2012, St Catherine’s looked after my grandpa at their site in Crawley. They put protocols in place to stop him from getting out of bed (and potentially injuring himself). They played audiobooks through his final hours where he couldn’t communicate but could still hear. When he passed away, they gave us time to say goodbye and  took all of us into a cosy, private room and allowed us as much time as we needed as a family. 

In my work as a funeral director, I have seen many families visibly relax when talking about the St Catherine’s ‘angels’. It’s never easy seeing someone you care about dying and in pain. The situation before they become involved is often highly emotional and a very tense time, St Catherine’s lessens the physical pain of their patients and the emotional pain of their loved ones. 

St Catherine’s vision is for a world where everyone facing death and bereavement can do so informed, supported and pain free. Their team of experts are there for people in West Sussex and East Surrey when they need support the most, and they rely on donations to be able to offer their pioneering care. Please donate today and help St Catherine’s be there for people when life comes full circle.