Alice's Story

Alice came to Teesside Hospice when she needed some additional care - and our kind, compassionate team were more than happy to offer this to her.

Alice – who celebrated her 86^th birthday while staying on our In-Patient Unit – is still living at home and being cared for by her four daughters to manage her illness, but when she needed some extra support and to give her daughters a break, our team were on hand.

And she certainly enjoyed her time here at Teesside Hospice! Alice said: “What a week! I did not want to come in but can I just say, it's better than a five-star hotel (and I have been in one or two!). Yes, it is absolutely beautiful and the people in here are absolutely stunning. There's nothing they wouldn’t do for you, which makes you feel so at ease and restful. My daughters did well to put me in here, I hope I'm getting in again next year as well!

I'm here so that my daughters can have a break. They’re looking after me morning, noon and night, one or the other. I still do my own washing and I've still got my own house, I’ve got carers that come in and I do like to do my own cooking.

In the Hospice, I’ve had my hair done, I’ve been in the jacuzzi bath, I’ve done everything. They are so gifted in what they do it’s unbelievable, they’re absolute treasures.

I've got them all running round after me. They're absolute gems. You just press that buzzer and they'll be here.

There are all the different parts to the hospice: there's a shop and a coffee shop and you can have aromatherapy, which I wouldn't get at home because there’s nobody to take me out to do it. If I want to go out in the garden I can, it’s lovely out there. I don't know what I'm going to do next in here and that's the pleasure of it, they’re always surprising you with something.

We spoke to Alice along with BBC Look North as part of the announcement of our agreement in principle to merge with Butterwick Hospice. When asked about funding challenge faced by hospices in the region, Alice said: “Why should they be struggling? Why should they have to struggle? I always contributed with working in the health centre, but, I mean, can’t some of these footballers dip their hands in their pocket?!”

She continued: “I’ve had a good life. My kids have got a good life and I've wanted for nothing. I've had lovely memories and I've had good kids.

If anybody is frightened about coming into a Hospice, please, please don’t be - just come in. Listen to your daughters, or anybody! But please, give it a go because it is so restful and peaceful. Look at me, I couldn't want for anything.

I’m going home for my birthday party at the weekend, but they wouldn't need to force me back into the Hospice because I love it. Absolutely love it.”

Thank you so much for sharing your story, Alice. To find out more about the support that we offer to over 4,000 people like Alice each year, visit www.teessidehospice.org/our-work/.