13th October 2011

DORCHESTER: Success for first Hospice Care Week

By Anita Harries

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust joined forces with hospices across the UK to launch the very first Hospice Care Week, celebrated from 8th - 14th October, with all hospices working together to raise awareness of hospice care and address the many misconceptions people may have about their work.

The opening day of Hospice Care Week saw the Joseph Weld Hospice in Dorchester invite members of the public to an Open Day to help celebrate this national event and allow people to see just how welcoming these places can be.

Ruth Burnhill, Director of Nursing and Patient Services, said: “We hope people will come to the Weldmar Open Day, talk to us, and be surprised by the variety and diversity of hospice care.”

The Weldmar Hospicecare Trust is the only agency providing specialist palliative care in north, south and west Dorset.

An independent charity, it cares for patients with cancer and other progressive conditions, such as motor neurone disease, who require specialist help to manage their symptoms.

Weldmar cares for over 1,300 patients and their family members across the area, providing care and advice in the comfort of their own homes, in the day hospices, or the inpatient unit at the Joseph Weld.

All services are provided free of charge, and the charity needs to raise a staggering £5million a year from fundraising events and charity shops towards its £6.5million annual costs. The balance comes from the NHS.

A steady stream of people visited the Joseph Weld during the Open Day.

A whole range of display boards provided information on the many services provided, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, family support services, educational programmes, and complementary therapies.

Photographic displays gave first hand accounts of all that goes on within the hospice itself, and there were details of volunteering opportunities and forthcoming events.

Staff members and volunteers were on hand to give advice and answer questions, and there was a superb display of crafts created by many of the patients.

As well as some beautiful paintings, there were examples of jewellery making, felt making, mosaics, glass painting, silk painting, flower arranging, and dream catchers.

Creative therapist Debbie Elsmore, who works alongside fellow therapist Susie White, said: “This is without doubt the most rewarding and enjoyable job I have ever done.

“It is so satisfying to see such amazing works of art produced by the patients, some of whom have little or no experience.

“The classes we hold are incredibly relaxing and therapeutic, and all who take part seem to get a great deal of enjoyment from so doing.”

Jo Sharkey is the Children’s Bereavement Support Worker, helping children from three to eighteen cope with terminal illness in their families.

She said: “I am there throughout, from pre-bereavement to death and post-bereavement, supporting children through incredibly difficult times. And together we create memorybooks, canvasses and pictures to help preserve special memories of loved ones.”

Hospice care has different associations for different people.

By asking visitors to choose just one word to represent what hospice care means to them, the ultimate aim is to create a picture of what hospice care really means to local communities. And some of the words used were life, laughter, friends, and home.

PICTURE: Staff members and volunteers on hand to help and advise during the Open Day

DORCHESTER: Success for first Hospice Care Week

DORCHESTER: Success for first Hospice Care Week

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