We believe in the importance of adding quality to every aspect of life for our patients where possible, through our specialist hospice patient wellbeing activities and services. We also work to address the needs of our patients’ families in this area with a number of groups and activities with our family wellbeing services.

We offer a number of wellbeing services to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of our patients and their loved ones, as well as carers who require support during challenging times.

A Little Summer Pause – We’ll See You Soon!
To everyone who attends our Wellbeing Groups.
As we head into late summer, we wanted to let you know about a small change to our Wellbeing Groups over the next few weeks.

From Monday 18 August to Friday 29 August, most of our Wellbeing groups will be taking a short summer break. During this time, the only sessions that will continue to run are our Seated Exercise Groups on:

Tuesday 19 August
Thursday 21 August
Tuesday 26 August
(All running at the usual time of 11.00am – 12.00pm)

We know how important these groups are - they’re something you look forward to and that’s why we want to reassure you: this is just a brief pause. We’ll be back from Monday 1 September. This small break gives our team a chance to recharge so we can return refreshed and ready to offer the care and support you deserve.

And most importantly, we’re still here. If you have any questions or require support during this time, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01474 320007, and a member of the team will be happy to help – we’re still here for you.

Thank you for your understanding and we look forward to welcoming you back in September.

Best wishes

Andy Lowden
Operational Wellbeing Lead
ellenor

Find out more about our wellbeing services

FIND OUT MORE

Wellbeing timetable

Befrienders

At ellenor, our Befriending service is a complimentary service which is available for patients and carers. Befrienders visit patients and carers in the comfort of their own homes, but may also visit in Nursing or Residential homes. The Befriending service at ellenor is designed to lessen feelings of isolation and loneliness that patients may experience, thus promoting emotional and social wellbeing. Befrienders have the important role of giving much needed company to the patients, allowing their hard-working carers to take a rest when they need it. Sometimes Befrienders also escort patients to the Hospital or Clinic for appointments, as well as attending specially arranged wellbeing trips.

Bereavement Support

We all experience bereavement at some stage of our lives, and it can leave many people feeling at their most vulnerable. The level of bereavement care and its nature vary greatly from person to person, and whilst many need social support, other people may also need counselling, practical information or expert advice.

At ellenor, we understand that everyone experiences bereavement differently, which is why we offer a number of different wellbeing support services to help those who need it. We provide counselling and bereavement support for relatives and close friends of our patients, to ensure that you receive the support that you need during this difficult time.

Our one-to-one counselling sessions are available during this time of transition, as well as informal weekly coffee mornings for the bereaved. If you prefer to meet others who are experiencing similar emotions, we also host a number of Bereavement Cuppa and Group meeting events. We also have smaller groups which are designed specifically for parents who have lost a child.

Free Financial Support & Legal Advice Services

Free Financial Support

As individuals near the end of life, it’s normal to face concerns about income, additional costs and managing finances. We’re pleased to be able to say that with ellenor, financial help and assistance is available.

This service helps with support and guidance on the following:

Applying for disability benefits, which many do not realise they are entitled to
Health costs, such as prescriptions and travel to hospital
Transport concessions such as Blue badges
Accessing charitable grants
Signposting to organisations who are able to give more detailed financial advice
Please note, this is NOT a Financial advice service, but we are able to direct people to appropriate help and expert advice surrounding other cases outside immediate welfare advice, such as working rights, pension rights, life insurance claims and the importance of wills and forward financial planning.

Music Therapy

When people are at the end of their lives, it can be a very difficult time to talk. Music can be a great way for people to communicate non-verbally, especially with loved ones. As part of our family wellbeing services, we offer music therapy to both children and adults.

Music therapy is a therapeutic intervention, which uses music to form a relationship with another person, irrespective of musical ability. Music therapy is an emotional outlet for patients and carers, and can also distract those from feelings of pain or stress. Through music therapy, beneficial changes and developments are worked towards in a safe and creative way. Not only is music therapy beneficial for supporting wellbeing, but taking part also raises self-esteem and enjoyment.

Please note you do not need any previous musical ability to benefit from this form of therapy.

Play Therapy

Play therapy is a therapeutic approach to help troubled and distressed children to express their feelings. Our play sessions are tailored to promote choice and to develop skills. Our team works hard to ensure that all play activities are appropriate to your child’s age, ability and culture, so that they feel the full benefit of our sessions.

This is an opportunity for children to explore painful feelings, and to understand traumatic experiences which they may not be able to discuss in words. At ellenor, we have a Play Therapy room, or one of our specialists can visit your child at home or school if preferred.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHILDREN’S HOSPICE CARE.

Family Support Workers

As part of our family wellbeing services, we have a team of Family Support Workers to provide support and guidance to patients, relatives and carers. Family support workers will visit you at your home, and will offer help and emotional support to those that are facing various issues. They can offer practical help to carers on any family matter, or can simply offer social support if you are struggling with your caring role.

Spiritual Care

Understandably, as terminally ill patients approach the end of their life, powerful and complex emotions can begin to take over. Patients may also question the purpose and value of their life. At ellenor we have a hospice chaplain, who as an integral member of the team, is a medical professional who cares for a patients spiritual needs. The role of the hospice chaplain is pivotal as many patients turn towards spirituality for comfort when nearing the end of life. A hospice chaplain will ensure that no patient dies alone, and is surrounded by comfort and compassion until the end of their life.

Not only is our Spiritual Care service available to hospice patients, but also to families and carers. When a patient is terminally ill, this can heavily impact family and loved ones. Naturally, the process can take a spiritual toll on a patient’s family, who may be feeling confused or worried about the process. Chaplains serve as a listener, and can offer spiritual counsel for those who require it.

Complementary Therapies

At ellenor, we offer patients a wide range of complementary therapies which may help you feel more relaxed or better to cope with your illness or treatment. Our complementary therapies are used alongside conventional treatments, with the aim of providing psychological and emotional support. We provide the following complementary therapy treatments for our patients:

Aromatherapy - Aromatherapy involves essential oils from natural plants. Every oil has its own set of unique properties that are considered to have a range of health benefits. This form of therapy is also considered to be very relaxing, and can relieve patients from any stress.
Gentle Touch Massage - Massage therapy involves the pressing of soft tissues on the body in a calming and therapeutic manner. Studies show that massage therapy can help reduce feelings of anxiety and depression in patients.
Reflexology - Reflexology is the application of pressure to certain areas of the feet, and is known to alleviate feelings of stress.
Relaxation - Relaxation therapy covers a range of techniques, including breathing exercises, mindfulness sessions and meditation.
Reiki - Reiki (pronounced ray-key) means “universal life energy” in Japanese. The practitioner gently places their hands non-intrusively, on or near the body there is no massage or manipulation. This helps to bring about a sense of calm, balance and wellbeing.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION FULL VIDEO

Find out more

If you would like to find out more information about our range of patient and family wellbeing services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of the team or make a referral today.