Hospice care is more than you think – it’s love, kindness and friendship. Ahead of this year’s Hospice Care Week, we spoke to Margaret and Wayne, who formed a bond while both staying on our In-Patient Unit.
Despite never having met before, the pair got chatting in our gardens and found they had a lot of similar interests. This led to meeting up every day for a chat, sharing gifts like blankets, cupcakes and flowers, going to our Wellbeing relaxation group together, and becoming close friends.
Wayne even has the name Margaret tattooed – though that’s purely a coincidence, rather than a lasting impact of their friendship!
Wayne said: “It’s nice to share with someone. I was in a bad way with depression before coming here, but Margaret has really helped me, she’s brought me out of it.”
Margaret said: “He’s so easy to talk to and so friendly. I can tell him anything, and I know he says the same. We’re friends, we really get along and it’s made our stay more pleasant.”
At Teesside Hospice, we hope to help our patients make memories - Wayne and Margaret’s special friendship is just one example of how we can offer so much than end of life care.
We're changing lives across Teesside by supporting people and families who've been affected by a terminal illness.
Janet is one of our wonderful meal service volunteers, gifting her time to serve lunches to our in-patients. Here she shares how she became involved with Teesside Hospice, and what she enjoys about her role.
Previously, when Donna thought of the word hospice, she thought of dying – but that association changed after she became a patient. Donna shares how a stay on our In-Patient Unit has given her confidence and changed her misconceptions around hospice care.
Whether you’re looking to gain new skills or build on those you already have, volunteering can be a great way to broaden your knowledge. For Charlotte, who volunteers in our People Team, it was about building on the knowledge she’d gained on a recent course.
Keep me up to date
Social Media
Get In Touch
Whether you want to talk to one of our professional staff or find out how you can get involved, please get in touch.