Open House - Summer 2023

How we helped Ahmed get walking again

“I feel confident and stronger”

Hospices have always been there to support patients and their families when they are facing life-limiting illnesses - and most people recognise that fact. We, and all hospices, are very good at it! But the reality is we are not reaching people early enough and supporting them throughout their whole journey. Our goal is to enable our patients to live the life they have left, working with them to keep them well for as long as possible through symptom control and physical and mental wellness.

We know we are not accessing all the patients who are eligible and would benefit from our services – we have reviewed the data and know this number is in the 1000s. Too many people are still being admitted to hospitals when they reach a crisis, in some cases multiple times a year. Sadly, this can result in people dying in a hospital rather than their preferred place of death, so with 40% of people dying in our local hospital, we have more to do. We believe this could be different if they were able to access our care earlier.

Those people are a priority for us. When someone learns that no curative treatment is no longer an option, we need to be there at that point. Some people can feel very frightened at that time. Others feel lost and overwhelmed. You may have your own experience of what this moment in time is like.

We are doing lots to tackle this, so that more people are referred into our services as early as possible. I look forward to

bringing you along for that journey!

Ahmed, who you can read about on page 11, is a great example of how we can revolutionise someone’s physical and mental health if we know about them early. He is living with a heart condition that, coupled with lockdown, had left him unable to walk. Now, following weekly attendance at our strength and balance class, he can enjoy holidays with his grandchildren and keep up with them!

We want to go over and above, but hospices are not funded to go over and above. Just to stand still we need to fundraise £9,700 every day. You can see the impact that money makes overleaf with the release of our annual statistics - and you can read more about ways to support our work, such as our Fund a Few Minutes appeal and our wonderful Sunset Starlight walk in September.

You can also play your part in this by spreading the word. If someone you know has a condition that cannot be cured: tell them we are here and that we offer a range of Rehab and Wellbeing services, classes and clinics that could prove useful. We have experts with a range of skills who could elevate their health NOW!

Thank you as always for your wonderful, loyal support.

Lisa Hunt, Chief Executive lisa.hunt@ghhospicecare.org.uk

Needle-ss to say, we’re blown away!

Charlie Chicks spread their wings across the community this spring as part of our Easter campaign. An incredible 14,000 chicks hit the high streets for sale in shops, schools, businesses and community clubs raising a total of £18,000 and rising!

A special thank you to DLRC for donating the Crème Eggs, to our team of knitters, sewers and stuffers who have created an army of adorable chicks, and to our supporters for backing this campaign. Every Charlie Chick purchased makes a difference. We would love to make this campaign even bigger next year, raising more funds to support patients within our care. But we need your help. If you’re a keen knitter, or know someone who is, we’d love to hear from you. Contact fundraising@ghhospicecare.org.uk for more information.

Coming soon…

Hold tight Hitchin, there’s a new shop in town! This July, the doors will open to our thirteenth sustainable shopping outlet. ‘Threads’ will join the Hitchin Churchgate community, selling the finest pre-loved fashion. Check out our social channels for the latest news and updates.

Did you know?

Each year, items sold in our shops and online not only support with raising vital charitable income, they also have a huge environmental impact too. Last year alone, we saved approximately 5,000 tonnes from landfill!

Last year in numbers

Our teams continue to care around the clock, thanks to your support. These stats show the difference we make every day, supporting local

1,096 Hospice at Home visits

2,271 Patients, carers and community members cared for across all Garden House Hospice Care services

432 advice line calls

inc r esae 14%

942 pre and post bereavement counselling sessions

numbers people facing a life limiting illness.

264 dementia interventions

Frailty team reviewed and made support calls to

3,558 people

27%

167 admissions onto our Inpatient Unit

264 Compassionate Neighbours referrals

4,342 Rehab and Wellbeing activities held

Teams working together

Every minute we need to raise £6.74 to pay for our care. This figure has grown considerably in recent years, with rising bills and demand for our services.

We know that times are tough for many and we are often told by supporters, ‘I’m sorry, this is all I can give’. Well, actually no donations are too small (and you should never be sorry!).

That is the theory behind our Fund a Few Minutes appeal. If everyone funds a minute or two, then together you can fund hours. Last year the appeal generated enough donations to pay for almost two days of our care, which blew us away.

And at Garden House Hospice Care, we make every minute matter. Jackie’s story overleaf demonstrates how even 60 seconds can be impactful. It took less than a minute for one of our doctors to hold her hand while speaking to her on the Inpatient Unit last month. That simple gesture won’t be forgotten by her family. Her warm, bubbly bath didn’t last long. That feeling of being nurtured and cared for will linger on. It takes a few minutes for our Family Support team to hand memory books

to Jackie’s grandchildren, so they can pull together treasured memories. That book will be cherished for a life-time. The results of the actions we take every minute - that you could help us to fundmake a bigger, longer-lasting difference than you may think.

Whether you can fund a minute, five minutes or more, please consider supporting our campaign today. You can visit the Fund a Few Minutes page on our website to see how every minute is adding up. Collectively, we can do amazing things. We would love you to be a part of it.

Jackie’s story

Spending time with loved ones is even more precious when people are facing the end of their life.

Ellie shares how the holistic care her mum Jackie received at Garden House Hospice Care gave her comfort and enabled her family to stay by her side…

“Mum had been poorly for over eight months but sadly after five months in hospital with an undiagnosed chronic bowel condition, sepsis and other health complications, there was no more the doctors could do for her.

Home from home

“She was so unwell when she arrived on the ward, she was expected to die within days but after just two days she actually picked up, and she was eventually discharged into a nursing home.

“Every time the nurses came to see her, they would ask how she was feeling and if she needed anything. This meant so much to her.

“The doctors held her hand and they explained everything in such a lovely way. This was so important, especially as she struggles to hear on one side.

“Her room was bright and the staff put her pictures up to make it homely.

“She was even given a special bath and it made her so happy.

“The care team has really looked after our family too. I was able to stay with mum and my daughters - who are very close to their grandmother and made memory books with the family support team.

“When the time came to be discharged, Mum didn’t want to leave.

“We are so grateful to the hospice for making a very difficult time a bit easier for all of us.”

THANK YOU

your minute and find out more.

Spotlight on: Sunset Starlight Walk

Join us on Saturday 9th September as we light up the night in this year’s Sunset Starlight Walk. The circular 6.5 mile route gives you a great chance to get together with friends and family, recall memories of loved ones and support your local hospice.

From start to finish, our Sunset Starlight Walk is truly ‘a walk to remember’. Even as early as congregating in the registration area prior to the walk starting, there’s a real sense of togetherness amongst the hundreds of groups of friends, families, and colleagues taking part - whether they’re remembering someone special or joining just for fun.

Walkers will take to the streets, countryside and villages surrounding Letchworth as the sun goes down. The beautiful views of the sunset and stars as it gets

dark outside add to the already special atmosphere of the occasion, in addition to the ‘light’ and ‘sound’ surprises we have planned.

Fancy dress is always encouraged for the Sunset Starlight Walk, as well as glowsticks and glitter – the more, the better! Dogs are also welcome to join in the fun. The event raised thousands of pounds for the Hospice last year, and we’re hoping this year will be no different. By taking part and supporting us by raising sponsorship, you can help us to continue to care for patients and their families in our community.

Tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for under 18s. Register today at ghhospicecare.org.uk/sunset-starlight-walk.

Compassionate Neighbours turns five

We recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of our Compassionate Neighbours project. From relatively humble beginnings, we now have 200+ incredible volunteers visiting isolated people every week.

Compassionate Neighbours was introduced to provide support to community members who may be experiencing loneliness or social isolation. They are matched with a volunteer who could support them by visiting regularly for a chat, offering friendship and a listening ear, helping them to do the things they like doing, and helping them stay connected to the community.

Project Manager Jeanette trained our first cohort of Compassionate Neighbours back in 2018 and the project has since flourished. It now includes our weekly wellbeing hubs which provide a welcoming space for people to come together, join a seated exercise group and take part in creative and fun activities. We recently held a party for our Compassionate Neighbours to celebrate their incredible achievements. There, our Community Engagement Lead, Richard, shared just how proud he is of what has been accomplished:

“The project has been a roaring success and everyone involved should be congratulated. The part they play helps engage people with hospice services much earlier on.

“Here’s to the next five years!”

Compassionate Neighbours in figures

1,200 referrals

821 matches

425 volunteers

150 hub attendees

7 weekly wellbeing hubs

If you would like a Compassionate Neighbour or can spare an hour a week to become one, visit ghhospicecare.org.uk/compassionate-neighbours

Make a Will

Our Make a Will scheme gives you the opportunity to write or update your will with a solicitor for free, in exchange for a donation to Garden House Hospice Care. It is open all year round. Kerry Cunnane, who manages the project, tells us more.

Why should I write a will?

Having a will written allows you to protect your loved ones when you are no longer here. I have recently written my own will and if I had known it would be so easy I would have done it a long time ago. Don’t let it be one of those life-admin jobs that you put off.

What are the benefits of taking part?

The suggested donations are hugely cheaper than the cost of an average will, you get an important job done, and the money raised will be used to help our patients. It’s win win really. We hope to raise £10,000, which could pay for three days of the 24/7, expert care we give on our Inpatient Unit.

Is it a difficult process?

Most people think that having their will written is going to be a long and complicated process but it really isn’t.

To book your appointment you need to choose a solicitor, contact them to arrange your appointment and make your donation. Please then send

Legacies Manager

me a quick email to Kerry.cunnane@ ghhospicecare.org.uk, confirming this has all happened.

Some solicitors may give you a questionnaire to complete ahead of the appointment, or encourage you to think about some of the key decisions you will make. The appointment itself will only last an hour or two, and they will send you the will once they’ve written it for your comments. Once it’s complete, they will send you a copy and keep a copy too.

Do I have a book an appointment in person?

All companies offer appointments in their offices, some offer video calls and home visits.

Do I need to leave money to the Hospice in my will?

There is no obligation to leave a gift to the Hospice. Legacies fund a large amount of our work, and even a small gift left to us once you have looked after your loved ones would make a real difference to those who need us in the future.

Ahmed is back up on his feet

We’ve helped Ahmed get his confidence back.

Family means everything to Ahmed and his wife Rita, who have been married for 54 years, and they love spending time with their children and three grandchildren.

Ahmed, 79, who has a rare heart condition which also affects his eyesight, has been struggling with his mobility for many years but lockdown left him struggling to walk and afraid to leave the house. Since attending exercise sessions run by our Rehab and Wellbeing Service, not only has his strength improved, they have given him back his confidence. Here Ahmed shares how the specialist support he has received at Garden House Hospice Care has been truly life-changing.

“I was 45 years old when I suffered my first cardiac arrest, and I had several heart attacks in the following years. Eventually I was fitted with a pacemaker and a defibrillator.

I started going downhill during lockdown and my mental and physical health really suffered. I was struggling to walk because I was doing no exercise at all and spending my days sitting down. I became afraid to leave the house.

It was my cardiologist who signposted me to Garden House Hospice Care and it has been a real godsend.

I was quite apprehensive when I first went along to the weekly strength and balance classes but now, I really look forward to them.

I am part of a lovely group of like-minded people and the staff are wonderful - they make you feel welcome and put you at ease.

I feel much more confident now and I am definitely getting stronger. I was able to walk to the doctors by myself recently –it’s not far but I would never have been able to do that if it wasn’t for the help the hospice has given me.

It has put Rita’s mind at ease too. While I am doing my class, she is able to go and do the shopping as she doesn’t have to worry about me.

Last year, we went on holiday with our grandchildren and I wasn’t able to join in as I couldn’t walk much at all.

It was a different story this year! In February we went to Suffolk for a short break and I had so much fun going out and about with the grandchildren.

My daughter asked the little ones “what was the best part of your holiday?” and they said “Grandad coming out” – that really meant the world to me.

Breaking down barriers around dementia

We recently sat down with Hannah Gardner, our Admiral Nurse who specialises in dementia care. She told us about how her work addresses the common misconceptions surrounding dementia and explained her role in the community.

The bulk of Hannah’s role involves raising awareness of dementia, getting it in the spotlight and giving it the attention it deserves. It’s about campaigning for support and recognising it as a disease of the brain – not just a normal process of aging.

“Think about someone who might be in a shop and taking longer to count their money,” Hannah said as an example. “These things are often thought of as just getting old and slowing down – but actually, this person could have dementia.

“I help train professionals all across Hertfordshire with spotting the signs,” she continued. “I also provide dementia awareness training to staff and volunteers that join the Hospice.”

Hannah Gardner Admiral Nurse

Hannah became an Admiral Nurse after her own mother was diagnosed with early onset dementia in her early 50s. She knows first-hand how overwhelming a diagnosis can be for patients, their families and carers, and provides emotional support, a listening ear and guidance on local services.

“You get so many people struggling out there with not enough support and they don’t know where to turn,” she concluded. “Dementia is devastating – it’s a horrible disease, so it really is rewarding to use my experience to support families and carers and also help train people with recognising dementia.”

For advice, guidance or training opportunities visit ghhospicecare.org.uk/dementia-care