"Maybe there is some purpose to life in the end" - Roger's experience with Garden House Hospice care

Roger used to attend the Wellbeing Hubs at Garden House Hospice Care with Val as her carer, enjoying seated exercise and a social chat with others. When Val’s mobility declined Roger struggled to drive to the Hub and they stopped attending each week.

Roger would often walk a mile to town while pushing his wife’s wheelchair with ease, with no mobility issues. That was until he felt his legs start to stiffen:

“My ability to walk quickly degenerated from having stiff legs to virtually being unable to walk at all. I did not know what was going to happen, and I wondered what sort of life is this?”

After conversations with Jenny, Roger was transferred to Garden House Hospice Care and onto the Inpatient Unit. It had been over three weeks since Roger had been able to walk, but within just 48 hours of being at the Hospice, he walked with his daughter into the Hospice Garden:

“The staff have been so kind and so helpful, and I have been able to make great improvements each day. Having made progress I began to see that well maybe there is some purpose to life in the end.”

During his stay at the Hospice, Roger worked with the Rehab and Wellbeing Team to build up his strength and confidence. He attended Tai Chi group classes to improve balance and muscle strength, and attended weekly wellbeing hub with seated exercise and a chance to socialise with other people in the community. The team of occupational therapists took Roger on a home visit during his stay with, working with him to adapt his home environment to fit his changing needs, making things easier to access and ensuring he could return home, to a life as close to normal as possible.

“Their assessments on what I need to help me at home were 100% right and I am eternally grateful for them. Where I used to stand and prepare my food, I now have a perching stool so that I can sit at the kitchen counter and make myself a slice of toast and a coffee and know that I am doing it comfortably and I am enjoying it. It is a tremendous improvement in my quality of life, just to be able to do small things like that.”

After just over a week, Roger was ready to return home with continued support from the Community and Rehab and Wellbeing teams, putting his name down on the list for the minibus service to pick him up and take him back to the weekly hub.

Ten days after being discharged from Garden House Hospice Care, Roger shared what it had been like to get his independence back:

“It’s been very satisfying because although I am restricted on how much I can do, at least I am not dependant on others to help me now. I can plan my own days and do things in the order I want to do them, and last night I made myself an omelette with bacon and mushrooms! The Hospice has taught me so much practically and emotionally.”

His wife Valerie has now settled into a care home which Roger visits regularly, making sure that they maintain their close relationship.

Lindsay shared about what improvements he has made since being home:

“After just a week of being home he was doing his washing, cooking and even walking himself to the local supermarket to do some shopping. He is set up with a mobility scooter for his longer trips and has taken himself out for haircuts and things like that.

“Without his ten days at the Hospice, I have no doubt that he would have come out of the hospital, and I would have had to look at putting him in a care home, but now, only weeks later, I was able to go on a three-day trip away and he was perfectly fine on his own.”

Garden House Hospice Care has played a valuable role in Roger’s journey to recovery, independence and integration back into the community that he loves.

“If you’re contemplating giving support to the Hospice, whether that be financial or practical, the need is tremendous and anything that you can do will be repaid tenfold. I cannot praise the staff here enough, they are absolutely super, every single one of them.”