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Having a serious illness can impact on many areas of life. In the palliative stage of illness, patients and their families may experience social, physical, psychological and spiritual pain and feelings of fear, anxiety, anger and disappointment.
Our wellbeing team can help with a range of support services and techniques to help alleviate some of the worries and concerns associated with a palliative illness; helping to make things a little more manageable.
Both inpatient and community patients have access to our wellbeing services.
Our team of trained Social Workers can guide and support our patients and their families in a variety of ways, including:
As well as caring for the medical needs of our patients, we also want to offer assistance in the non-medical aspects their illness. We call this holistic care.
All staff at our Hospice are trained in listening to and caring for your needs and we have our own dedicated team of spiritual, pastoral and religious carers who will be happy to see you at your request.
As part of our initial getting to know you we will, with your permission, ask you some questions about what’s important to you and where you find strength.
Spiritual Healthcare is concerned with who you are, what makes you uniquely you and what’s important; especially in times of illness and loss.
We can support you with relaxation and meditation techniques, bringing calm and relaxation to aid your care. We have created a range of relaxation and meditation videos available on YouTube allowing you to access Spiritual support whenever you need it.
Relaxation and Meditation Playlist
Pastoral Healthcare is non-religious and non-spiritual and is concerned with who you are and what’s important to you, especially in times of illness and loss.
Our team can talk to you and your family about:
Religious Healthcare is about making sure that any religious needs you may have are addressed as part of your care, whatever your faith.
We are committed to ensuring that patients from all faiths, cultures and backgrounds feel comfortable and reassured in our care and we welcome your own faith leader to the hospice should you wish to see someone authorised to perform a religious ritual or service.
The Spiritual Space at our adult site is open all day and can be used for peace, reflection, quiet, prayer or any activity which helps bring comfort and peace. It’s also where you’ll find sacred and inspirational books including the Bible, Quran, Bhagadvad Gita and Humanist writings alongside items such as prayer mats, crucifixes/crosses and a range CDs; all of which which can be used in any of the quiet or patient rooms.
Our Spiritual Space is located just off our adult hospice reception.
Opening the Spiritual Gate – Interactive Guide to Faiths
Interactive Map: Places of Worship in Stoke-on-Trent
Places of Worship near Dougie Mac
Roman Catholic Parish Directory and Links
Christian
Prayers from the Faith Traditions
Spiritual Practices
Spirituality and Practices
Spiritual Activities and Self Care
Labyrinth
Labyrinth App
Living with a life-limiting illness is hard on everyone. At Dougie Mac, we support patients, their carers and family members not just in the hospice but in their own homes too.
The Carer & Patient Support Service supports people to live as fully and independently as possible and to help build their confidence and gain control of their own lives.
The service offers practical support within the home, emotional support face to face or over the phone and an opportunity for carers and patients to discuss their own needs. Like many Dougie Mac services, the Carer and Patient Support Service relies on a team of trained volunteers.
Dougie Mac Buddies offer emotional support and companionship to patients, their carers and family. By visiting weekly or fortnightly a Buddy becomes a friendly face, spending time in the patient’s home. A visit could be a simple chat and cup of tea, getting involved with shared interests, offering a break for the carer and patient, to allow some time to enjoy some ‘me time’. Buddies can also provide a helping hand, for example, support with light housework, gardening, laundry, ironing and cooking, collect shopping or enjoy a trip to out.
Buddies do not offer clinical, medical or personal care and are not responsible for administering medication.
Enquire about Volunteering
Our telephone befriending volunteers provide regular calls to patients, carers and our bereaved carers. We aim to help reduce the feeling of isolation and loneliness offering social interaction and emotional support. Having one person ringing you regularly seems really simple, however having one person to talk to, one person who listens to you can make a big difference.
Our telephone befrienders can communicate either by telephone calls or if suitable via free video calling programmes, like Skype, Zoom, WhatsApp etc.
Enquire about Volunteering
When patients and carers are unable to attend medical appointments by their own means our volunteer drivers offer non- emergency transport to and from appointments.
Our drivers provide a friendly face, listening ear and will help to put you at ease during the transport. The drivers provide a personal touch to brighten the day as they transport you to and from your appointment, they will assist you to get to where you need to be and back home again safely.
Enquire about Volunteering
Dougie Mac’s fortnightly carer support group is a small group of carers supporting people with a life-limiting illness. Being a carer can be positive and rewarding, but at the same time a carer may need some time for themselves. The group offers a chance to meet others in a similar situation, gain support, share experiences and advice. A chance to talk about any aspects of your experiences. The group offers you a chance to talk openly and discuss freely what concerns you have in a safe environment.
The group runs every other Thursday 1pm-2.30pm. Booking is essential. Please contact Pat Hamilton or Lisa Jones on 01782 344300.
After the loss of a close loved one, many carers feel lost, disconnected and isolated from their friends and community. Talking to others who know what it is like to be bereaved can help former carers grieve and realise that they’re not alone. Our bereaved carers friendship group provides a safe space for former carers to talk, listen and share their experience of loss in order to re-build a sense of purpose and improve mental wellbeing.
This group runs every other Thursday 1pm-2.30pm. Booking is essential. Please contact Pat Hamilton or Lisa Jones on 01782 344300
Advance Care Planning is all about giving you the chance to tell others about you and your wishes should you lose capacity or be unable to tell anyone.
It’s a voluntary process and involves a series of discussions that help you explore your personal preferences and choices for your future care and treatment.
This will help people involved in your health and welfare like doctors, nurses, family and friends to act in accordance with your wishes.
The Advance Care Planning service will help you to explore the options open to you.
This can include supporting you to:
-Write an Advance Care Plan
-Write a Respect document
-Write an Advance Decision to Refuse Treatment
-Register a Lasting Power of Attorney
This service is free of charge to patients of Dougie Mac.
Lasting Power of Attorney enables a person (known as the donor) to appoint one or more people (known as attorneys) to help them make decisions about their personal welfare and / or property and affairs. Further information about Lasting Powers of Attorney can be obtained from the Office of the Public Guardian: www.publicguardian.gov.uk
ReSPECT stands for ‘Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment.’ It’s a two-way discussion that takes place between the person and their healthcare professional to enable their current and future state of health to be discussed and their priorities of care to be voiced. At its heart, the ReSPECT process is about improving care outcomes and patient experience, in accordance with a person’s wishes as far as possible, and enabling productive conversations between patients and clinicians about emergency, urgent and end-of-life care in a variety of care settings.
An Advance Decision to refuse treatment is a decision a person can make to refuse medical treatments in whatever circumstances they specify. Once signed it is a legally binding document, however, people can change their mind at anytime or make changes if they wish.
An Advance Care Plan allows a person to tell others about themselves and their choices and preferences for their future care and treatment. It is held by the person and can be shared with those who are involved with their health and welfare, including professionals, family and friends. It is not legally binding but those who care for you will always do their best to comply with it.
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There may be many adjustments to be made after the death of someone close and it may take time to work through your loss and feel that you can look to the future again.
Everyday living can feel like a burden where, as well as sorrow, you may experience physical symptoms including sleeplessness, lack of concentration, anger, low mood and anxiety. However challenging it may be to discuss your feelings, it can be a relief to share how you are feeling.
Our team of qualified and student counsellors are trained to understand loss and bereavement and can gently support you through this difficult time.
A Bereavement Counsellor can call you on a regular basis to listen and talk to you about your difficulties offering support in the comfort of your own home or a private space of your choice.
We can offer online one-to-one counselling over Zoom. You will need an internet connection at home to be able to access support in this way and a device such as computer/laptop/tablet/smart phone that you can download the Zoom software.
We can arrange face-to-face bereavement counselling for you with one of our Bereavement Counsellors. One to one support takes place at the hospice where you will be taken to one of our comfortable rooms where we hope to provide a safe and supportive environment to listen and talk to you about your difficulties.
“Hospice care isn’t just about dying – for us, Dougie Mac helped enhance my Dad’s quality of life and independence.”
-Son of Patient
As part of our holistic package of care, we offer complementary therapies which are tailored to our patients based on their individual needs. Complementary therapies are used alongside traditional medicine and healthcare practices to help treat symptoms and manage pain associated with palliative conditions.
Complementary therapies use the human touch to bring comfort, aid sleep, relieve stress and boost mood. Examples of complementary therapies available to patients and their families at Dougie Mac include Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Massage and Acupuncture (may not be appropriate for all patients)
Our Lymphoedema Nurses provide treatment to allowing our patients to manage their Lymphoedema symptoms and remain independent at home.
Patients are supported with an individual treatment plan to reduce their swelling, fluid build-up and associated discomfort.
The team also offer advice on how patients can manage the condition at home as part of their everyday routine including the use of compression garments, massage techniques and gentle exercise. Our Lymphoedema service empowers patients to take control of their condition and re-build their self-esteem.
Physiotherapy can help to rebuild and maintain strength and mobility as well as aid good circulation. Regular physio can also support the prevention of chest infections and pressure sores.
Our Physiotherapy team advises patients on how to maintain their independence with a tailored treatment plan including balance training, falls prevention and management, strengthening exercises and moving and handling assessments.
Inpatients and Outpatients are both welcome to use the specialist hospice gym equipment by appointment and under the supervision of our team.
