Jeanette Williford - Patient Relative

“Most people think that Hospice is for end of life cancer care, but it’s so much more than that.”

“My mother was referred to Hospice for respite care last year, through the Admiral Nurses team. Who are they, people asked? They are relatively new to the Island, and are a very small team of Dementia / Alzheimer’s specialist nurses, based at Hospice, and funded by the Forget Me Not charity. They provide similar support to that given by Macmillan nurses, for cancer sufferers and their families.

Most people think that Hospice is for end of life cancer care, but it’s so much more than that.

As far as I’m aware, anyone diagnosed as being in the last 12 months of their lives through critical illness, & their families, can be helped by Hospice, either with respite care, complementary therapies, palliative and other specialist nursing care.

My mother was at stage 6/7 of Vascular Dementia, so qualified for respite care, although it was in tight demand.

I was given incredible support as a full-time carer, with wonderful complementary therapy sessions, where I could relax and be restored, as well as counselling, and the offer of bereavement support counselling too.

The Hospice at Home team were outstanding. The girls had so much professionalism, warmth, kindness and compassion, that I couldn’t have asked for more, when the time came to need their help. I’ll never forget how amazing they were, not forgetting the Inpatients team, who were equally selfless and dedicated.

We are so lucky to have them in our lives, and only with our continued fundraising, can they provide their services. Let’s dig deep for the future of this vital asset to our Island’s healthcare, and support them all we can. Thank you, Isle of Man Hospice.”