Patient & family stories
Hilary’s story
Hilary’s story shows how hospice care adapts to people’s changing needs. She first attended our Living Well service, later received care on our Inpatient Unit, and has now returned home. With her symptoms under control, she’s back to enjoying her regular Living Well sessions.
Hilary first came to Katharine House Hospice through the Living Well service, attending breathlessness sessions to help her manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term lung condition that makes it difficult to breathe.
Through Living Well, she met a group of ladies who have become some of her closest friends. When they’re not attending sessions, they meet at Hilary’s house for a Tuesday lunch club, bringing packed lunches and enjoying crafts together.
“They’ve become my best friends,” said Hilary.
A jigsaw of support
As her condition progressed, Hilary continued to receive care from Katharine House, including visits from the Community Palliative Care Team at home. When her breathing became increasingly difficult to manage, community nurse Claire suggested a stay on the Inpatient Unit at the hospice.
“Claire asked if she could arrange a bed for me and whether I’d be willing to come in,” said Hilary. “She spoke to the hospice and they had a bed available, so it was arranged for me to come in the next day.”
Having attended Living Well sessions, Hilary felt reassured about coming to the hospice. “I felt at ease knowing I was coming here,” she said. “I’d already been attending Living Well and knew how lovely everyone was. I didn’t know many of the staff on the ward but I knew I was going to be well looked after.”
“It’s like a jigsaw, everyone does their bit to help.” – Hilary
Hilary spent two weeks on the Inpatient Unit, where doctors worked closely with her to get her symptoms under control. “When I came in, I thought I was dying,” she said. “The doctors took me off all my medication and started afresh. They’ve managed my medication and symptoms so well.”
During her stay, different members of the hospice team helped put everything in place for Hilary’s return home. Social Worker, Helen, and Chaplain, Alice, provided emotional care, while Occupational Therapist Lisa arranged for Hilary’s hospital bed at home to be serviced before she returns home. Helen, together with Family Support Worker, Sarah, helped Hilary access NHS Continuing Healthcare funding.
The little things
Hilary says it is often the little things that make the biggest difference. “The menu is amazing. I love the fruit salad and Josh’s flapjacks are fantastic!”
She laughs as she recalls a recent soak in the hospice’s jacuzzi bath. “I added my Sanex and the bubbles frothed up so much. I said to the nurses, ‘This is my Calendar Girls moment!'”
One of the nurses, Tamara, even French-braided her hair.
“Every single person here is just so kind.”
Family and friendship
Family is incredibly important to Hilary. She has three sons and six grandchildren and her brother has visited every single evening during her stay at the hospice.
“My 16-year-old grandson didn’t want to visit at first because he thought I’d come here to die. Now he’s been, he feels reassured and knows I’m going home again soon.”
Her 11-year-old granddaughter has also brought plenty of smiles. “She comes and lies on the bed with me, top and tail,” said Hilary. “I always joke that I hope she’s washed her feet recently!”
Hilary’s sister lives in Australia but that hasn’t stopped her keeping up with what’s happening. “She phones me and tells me all the facts she’s learned from the Katharine House website. The other day she asked if I knew who opened the hospice back in 1991. I said, ‘Yes, Princess Diana!'”
Putting plans in place
As she prepares to return home, Hilary says completing a ReSPECT form (Recommended Summary Plan for Emergency Care and Treatment) has helped her feel more in control.
She says she will be sad to leave the Inpatient Unit, but the support she has received from the hospice team has given her confidence that everything is in place for her return home, where she will continue to be supported by the hospice’s Community Palliative Care Team.
Reflecting on her experience, Hilary hopes her story will reassure others who may feel anxious about coming to the hospice.
“It’s not what you might think — it’s like a big hug. You’ll feel safe here.”
Please help us support people like Hilary
It is thanks to the donations of our wonderful supporters that we’re able to continue helping people affected by life-limiting illnesses, whether they need support in our Inpatient Unit or would like to attend our Living Well sessions. If you would like to make a donation, please click the button below.
About Katharine House Hospice
- To find out more about the work we do, read What we do.
- Read about the End-of-life care and Palliative Care (EPiC) Resource Centre, designed to support you and your family and friends, wherever you are in your journey with Katharine House Hospice.
- To receive regular news about development at the hospice and ways to support us, please sign up to our digital newsletter.
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