Celebrating Life, Dignifying Death
Hospice in the Weald is a well-established local charity serving the communities in West Kent and northern East Sussex for more than 40 years. We provide outstanding Hospice care to people living with a terminal illness, and those important to them.
Our strapline is “celebrating life, dignifying death”. Our patients and their loved ones are supported in celebrating life in whichever way they choose. Nick Farthing, Chief Executive explores our strapline: “We help people get the most out of life, through goal setting and empowerment. We’ve helped people go on family holidays that they might not have been able to, because of their strength or symptoms. In terms of building memories, that’s so important to people. Talking about death and what we want at the end of our lives helps to ensure that our wishes are met, having our symptoms controlled and our families with us. Our staff and volunteers walk alongside patients and families on that journey and help people to build memories, to celebrate life and to really make the most of the time that they have.”
Another part of the help we offer which can dignify death is as ‘care navigators’, steering people through a health system that can feel impersonal and undignified. Our services help patients, their families and carers make decisions that are right for them and their loved ones.
Each and every member of our workforce, both staff and volunteers, strives to play a part in dignifying the death of each patient. Sometimes we play a small part and it may not be easy to see how we do this, others play a clear and significant part. But we are all here for the community we serve, for you and your loved ones and will be here if ever and whenever you ever need us.”
