Your kind donation will help us continue to support patients and families of the Palliative Care Service
Waterford Hospice
How your fundraising helps
Waterford Hospice Movement funds a range of services, comforts and supports for patients and their families. Our goal is to create a sanctuary-like experience for patients and their families on Oak Ward – with an ambient and relaxing atmosphere with nice surroundings and quiet spaces and comforts to ensure optimum relaxation at this difficult time for patients and their families.
We also provide a similar range of supports for patients and families in their own homes.
Complementary
Therapies
Waterford Hospice Movement offers patient services such as
- Reflexology
- Reiki
- Acupuncture
- Craniosacral Therapy
Waterford Hospice
Patient and Family Supports
All are provided by qualified therapists, and all therapies are approved for each patient by the patient’s clinical team. In addition, we offer:
- Chiropody Service
- Hairdressing Service
- Dog Therapy
Patient Supports at The Oak Ward
Creating
A Relaxing Environment
We maintain the gardens and courtyards to ensure pleasant and peaceful spaces for patients and their families as well as having lots of indoor plants to soften the clinical setting for patients.
On both Oak Ward and Beech Floor we provide lighting, soft furnishings and artworks to optimise the ambience for patients and families at this challenging time for them.
We work closely with the Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Social Workers on Oak Ward and provide equipment and supports they request to bring comfort to patients. These items can be both large and vary, for example, Communications Technology Aids for patients who can no longer speak to communicate, special mattresses, and small items such as handheld fans, remote controls etc.
Patients and families
Supports in the Home
We offer Complementary Therapies and Chiropody to patients and families known to the community palliative care service, and in 2024 we commenced a new service, called Home Carer Support Hours.
This service provides support to the carers where WHM, in partnership with South-East Palliative Care Centre (SEPCC), have a formal arrangement which provides for 15hrs of Carer Support Worker time to be allocated to each patient/family by a HSE Approved Agency Provider.
The service provides for a Home Support Worker to stay with the patient for company.
WHM is funding 100% of the cost of this service.
Healing Sounds Programme (Healing Sounds on Oak Ward)
The Healing Sounds programme is where musicians from Waterford Healing Arts/Réalta, funded by WHM, play for patients and families on Monday evenings. Patients are asked what music they like and have the option of music to be played inside or outside of their room.
Creative Arts Programme
Our Creative Arts Programme “In the Moment” is where patients are offered the opportunity to take part in a visual art or poetry/writing programme provided by qualified people from Waterford Healing Arts/Réalta. This helps patients express themselves at a challenging time in their life in meaningful and memorable ways and can create legacies for their families and sometimes helps them to tell their story.
Irish Therapy Dogs
With the help of WHM, therapy dog Nuada and his owner, Feargal visit the Oak Ward once a week to engage with patients and their families. This service is provided by Irish Therapy Dogs and managed by WHM in partnership with the South-East Palliative Care Service.
Quote from Acting Director Of Nursing:
“With the addition of our weekly visits from Nuada our Irish Therapy Dog we really see the difference it makes to enhancing the quality of life of our patients, families and staff on Oak Ward. “This service is a very important part of the care provided to patients adding to their wellbeing…... Nuada brings a smile to everyone he meets on Oak Ward helping to build relationships by making a connection with people. We look forward to Nuada’s uplifting visit each week bringing so much joy and affection.”
Weddings & Other Events
WHM is delighted to support patients to celebrate their weddings or other special occasions including birthdays, anniversaries, as well as small events with their friends and families as the end of their lives draw near.
Other comforts
Other patient comforts provided daily include coffees from our state-of-the-art machine facilities, complemented by refreshments and snacks from our trolleys, and the daily newspapers.
Coffee is essential and we offer Bean to Cup Coffee which is a very popular beverage for patients and families at what can be a very stressful time. A shared moment a conversation over a coffee can be so important.
We are delighted to stock up on nightwear and other items of clothing as which are often needed.
As well as restocking materials for Arts & Crafts and Books for supporting patients and families and children as relevant to the experience they are going through.
3D Life Casting
3D Casting is the process of creating a 3D replica of hands or feet using skilled moulding and casting techniques. 3D castings for patients and their families can serve as precious keepsakes for the future.
Technology and
Equipment
We provide specialist equipment to support the staff in the hospice to deliver a high-quality service responsive to patients’ needs.
We are delighted to purchase items of equipment – Lymphatic Drainage Machines or Assisted Communicative Technology ACC Eye Gaze systems, which allow patients with complex communication and physical needs to be able to communicate through speech generating software.
Assisted Communicative Technology ACC Eye Gaze systems
High Tech AAC aids are necessary for patient’s dignity, safety, social inclusion and ability to participate in their care decisions. These devices are shown to improve the psychological, spiritual and care needs of patients in palliative care. They provide patients who are unable to communicate verbally a means to express their pain management needs, symptoms, raise an alarm for safety, express end of life preferences, engage in chat with family, give instructions to carers and express last words.
