Hospice care aims to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of adults and children with a life-limiting or terminal condition. It helps people live as fully and as well as they can to the end of their lives, however long that may be.
Hospice care looks after someone’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs. This means that hospices provide a wide range of services.
You don’t have to stay at a hospice to access their care - in fact many people receive support from a hospice whilst they are living at home or in a care home.
This approach to care also supports family members and others close to the person who is receiving hospice care. This support is offered during a person’s illness and into bereavement.
Hospice Care is … www.hospiceuk.org/about-hospice-care/what-is-hospice-care
Hospice care is appropriate for anyone who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, not just those with cancer
In 2017/18, a third of people admitted to our hospice ward had been diagnosed with conditions other than cancer, such as heart failure, respiratory disease, dementia and motor neurone disease.
Hospice care is not just about caring for people as they approach death; it is there to support you much earlier in your illness.
When the time is right your GP or other health professional will refer you to our Hospice, this will be when you are thought to have five or fewer years to live.
At this time we are able to better understand your future needs and how we can support you to live as well as possible for the time you have.
All of the services provided by Oakhaven hospice are free to those who need them.
This is thanks to the incredible generosity of our community, which every year, supports us in raising the £5million it costs to run our services.
Normally referral is from your GP, district nurse or hospital doctor or nurse.
The hospice is not necessarily somewhere where you come to die. You can be admitted to Oakhaven for a number of reasons, our aim is to make sure that you live as well as you can throughout your illness. Much of our work on the In Patient unit is based on managing your symptoms to make you more comfortable so you are able to return home.
At you near the end of your life, you may be admitted to spend your final days with us, during that time you may be able to go home for a short time if you are well enough or you may leave the hospice to spend your last days at home, supported by our community nursing team.
In most cases you will stay at home and be cared for by your GP and district nurse, with the help and support of our team of community staff including clinical nurse specialists, Oakhaven community registered nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, complementary therapists and counsellors. You may also be referred to our day hospice service.
Usually patients who come to Oakhaven live in the New Forest including Hythe and Waterside, Lymington, Brockenhurst, Sway, New Milton, Milford on Sea, Lyndhurst and Totton, but this will be dependent on the location of your GP surgery.
Yes, Oakhaven believes in caring for the patient and their family and offer support for them too. Your family may benefit from complementary therapy, counselling, carers’ days and general support from the whole team.
