Occupational therapy plays its part within the diverse range of services offered by Pilgrims Hospices. Helping people to live well in every moment is important to everyone at the hospices. The OT team has been helping patients on the wards to get creative and make some beautiful festive cards and angel decorations.
Della Green, Pilgrims Occupational Therapy Assistant explained: “My colleague Kristy Wells, OT Assistant at our Thanet Hospice, had the lovely idea of making up Christmas craft packs for patients to do whilst on our In-patient Units (IPU). We are always looking at ways to expand the range of therapeutic activities provided on our IPU’s across our sites in order to offer our patients the opportunity to engage in meaningful activities.”
We are able to adapt the activities in order to meet the various needs of our patients.
Della – Pilgrims
Della Green – Pilgrims Hospices, Occupational Therapy Assistant.
The team looked through the art supplies in the Wellbeing and OT departments and designed some Christmas card and angel decoration packs. They compiled some coloured instructions for the patients (and staff) on how to assemble the items. The kits were then put together in individually sealed plastic pockets in order to meet infection control guidelines. The packs can be completed in bed or at a table, are not energy intensive and are suitable for ladies or gentlemen of all ages. We use easily accessible resources enabling patients to continue their crafting ideas if returning home.
Della continued: “We are able to adapt the activities in order to meet the various needs of our patients. The lovely things about the selection of packs are that they are graded so anyone can have a go, regardless of age or diagnosis. We planned the craft activities to enable our patients to have the opportunity to bring meaning and fun with the added bonus of a beautiful end product to give to family or friends. We can all learn new skills and enjoy new experiences whatever our age or ability and some patients have pleasantly surprised themselves, with many not having partaken in art or craft previously.
“It has been shown that taking part in arts and crafts helps aid relaxation and therefore assists in relieving symptoms such as anxiety and pain, which is particularly important with our patients.
“The feedback from patients has been very positive and whilst doing the activities patients have really enjoyed reminiscing, story-telling about family traditions, chatting about family and childhood memories. It has also encouraged conversation between patients and taking part in the craft activities is often a great icebreaker. Patients who may have been reluctant to have a go at making something have enjoyed their sessions so much, that they have asked to make another card or angel.”
Kristy, Pilgrims OT Assistant added: “When I used the first Christmas card making kit with a patient on our IPU, she thoroughly enjoyed the craft session as she was very into crafts at home. Not only was she pleased with the finished card, but she said that she would be sending it on to an elderly friend who lives in a nursing home and who also enjoys crafting. So two people have had pleasure from the experience.
“As patients are enjoying our Christmas kits so much, we are hoping to carry on the activities at Easter and other times during the year. Making the Christmas cards and decorations for family and friends is such a meaningful activity, especially at this time of year.”
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
15th December 2020
Virtual reality appeal raises thousands for Pilgrims Hospices
Thanks to the efforts of our community of supporters, Pilgrims Hospices raised £14,874.72 for our Virtual Reality appeal.
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology accessed through a headset and headphones, which immerses someone within a 3D and 360-degree video to give them a sense of being physically present in that environment.
For example, through VR, someone could experience diving in the Great Barrier Reef or relaxing on a tropical beach.
Improving quality of life
The latest trials of virtual reality within a healthcare setting have shown an improvement in the quality of life for terminally ill patients by helping ease their anxiety, breathlessness, fatigue, and even reducing pain.
Through our Immerse Your Senses Appeal, we raised enough money to introduce a VR system at each of our hospices in Canterbury, Thanet and Ashford.
The system was used across all of our healthcare and wellbeing settings, including our Therapy Centres, in-patient units, and even in people’s homes, which benefitted a wide range of our patients.
Ann’s story
Ann Morris attended our Therapy Centre at Pilgrims Hospice Thanet, where she benefitted from the VR technology we offered for hospice patients.
Ann with Kristy Wells, Occupational Therapist Assistant
Why is this VR system so special?
What made this VR system particularly special is that it included its own camera so we could record and personalise the experiences we offered to our patients, whether that was a local place they were particularly fond of, or a special occasion they were unable to attend.
In this way, someone who was used to walking their dog along a beach but hadn’t been able to more recently, could once again experience this through virtual reality at Pilgrims.
Due to the simplicity of the system, we were even able to train our patients’ families to record and deliver these magical moments for their loved ones.
This sort of bespoke experience enabled our patients to escape the boundaries of their illness and enjoy treasured moments once again.
Thanks to the generous support of our local community, we were able to provide this incredible technology on each of our sites for two years.
Thank you!
Each year, Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to thousands of people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
Thousands of people bought and sold Pilgrims Hospices, Winter Wish draw tickets over recent months. The Christmas draw raised a staggering £72,624 for end of life care for this important local charity. This bumper figure is by far the highest amount raised for the annual draw for a number of years.
The draw took place on Wednesday 9th December with the first prize of £2,000 being won by a lucky Herne Bay resident with ticket number 0316181. The second prize is going to a Faversham supporter, ticket number 0412920 and third prize will wing its way to Folkestone with ticket number 0390468. Seven other prizes are going out across the county.
Congratulations and thank you so much for your phenomenal response to our annual Christmas draw you have made it a truly super draw!
Shiralee Riddell, Pilgrims Lottery Manager said: “Firstly I would like to thank everyone who generously purchased tickets for our Winter Wish draw. It has been a very difficult year for charities in general and we are enormously grateful to our supporters who have continued to be there for us, when we have needed them the most.”
No need to claim, our lucky prize winners cheques and gift vouchers will be automatically sent out in plenty of time for Christmas.”
The Pilgrims weekly Lottery draw, scratch cards, gift vouchers and its annual prize draw generate more than £1.1 million for Pilgrims Hospices care each year and are an important part of how the charity continues to raise funds for care across east Kent, on its wards, within the community and in people’s homes.
“Congratulations and thank you so much for your phenomenal response to our annual Christmas draw you have made it a truly super draw!” added Shiralee.
If you would like to become a Pilgrims Hospices Lottery member, with a chance of winning one of more than 100 cash prizes each week, please contact [email protected] or call the friendly lottery team to find out more 01227 379741. Entries are just £1 each per week! By playing the Pilgrims Lottery you are helping us to support people with incurable illness to live well in every moment. It’s an affordable and easy way to support your local hospice charity.
Care is provided from three hospice sites in Ashford, Canterbury and Thanet as well as in patients’ own homes. To offer these services to patients and their families the charity must raise £11 million each year from the generous local community.
9th December 2020
The people of east Kent remember loved ones from home this December
Pilgrims Hospices’ Trees of Love, east Kent’s largest remembrance services, were transformed this year into a remembrance to enjoy from the comfort and safety of home. Those remembering lost loved ones this Christmas dedicated doves to hang up at home, and watched a special filmed Remembrance Service on Saturday 5 December.
The service, which included a lights switch on at all nine venues across east Kent, festive readings and carols sung by local choirs, was produced by Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager at the Hospice, with help from BBC filmmaker, Kerry King – the second remembrance film to be released by the charity this year.
We’re so excited to have had Kerry onboard once again to deliver our festive remembrance, Trees of Love. It’s so important to us that we give everyone in east Kent the opportunity to remember their loved ones during the festive season, and this year was no exception.”
Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager at Pilgrims Hospices
Over 1,000 people tuned in to watch the Service on the charity’s YouTube Channel last weekend, and with donations still coming in they are on track to raise over £50,000 to fund hospice care. Sara added,
“The response we’ve had has been overwhelming, and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone that has dedicated a dove so far this year, your support means we are still here, still caring even during difficult times. If you’ve not had a chance yet, it’s not too late to remember your loved one with a dove in time for Christmas.”
Dove
Assorted Supporter Doves 1
Assorted Supporter Doves 2
All Souls Church Choir Cheriton
Canterbury Filming
Thumbnail
Thumb Nail High Sheriff Of Kent Remony Millwater (1)
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
3rd December 2020
Westerleigh Group continue their sponsorship of Trees of Love and Sunflower Memories
The Westerleigh Group, who have been sponsoring Trees of Love and Sunflower Memories for the past 5 years, have supported Pilgrims once again with an incredible £23,000 donation.
Although the events have been rather different this year, with Pilgrims being the first hospice in the UK to produce a Remembrance Film in July for Sunflower Memories, the response from supporters has been overwhelming.
Despite the pandemic, this year has been our most successful Sunflower Memories to date, with over 800 people remembering a loved one with a sunflower marker, raising an amazing £50,200 for hospice care. It really goes to show how important it is to our supporters to have the opportunity to remember lost loved ones, even from home.
Sara Scriven, Individual Giving Manager
The hospice continues with this success for their festive remembrance, Trees of Love, replacing the events usually hosted across east Kent with a filmed service, including the switch on of the Tree lights, carols and festive readings.
“We’re so grateful to Westerleigh for their continued sponsorship, and as one of our partners for Trees of Love, it is wonderful to hear that they also will be streaming live remembrance services from their Barham and Charing Crematoriums.”
With Pilgrims’ Trees of Love Remembrance only around the corner, it’s not too late to dedicate a dove in time to have it with you for the release of the online Remembrance Service on Saturday 5 December at 5pm on the Pilgrims Hospices YouTube channel and website.
To take part click here to complete the online donation form, or contact Supporter Relations on 01227 782062.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
2nd December 2020
Bernard remembers his wife Cath at Trees of Love each year
We have been sharing messages from our wonderful Trees of Love supporters over the past few weeks. Thank you Bernard Packer, who remembers his wife Cath at Trees of Love each year.
“I’ll never forget the day I met Cath, and the tingle that went up my arm when we first shook hands.
Cath (known as Kath to her friends) was the love of my life, always lit up a room, and we were happily married with four children for 65 years.
When she first started showing signs of dementia we did our best to look after her at home, but eventually accepted that she needed more specialist care. The hospice supported Cath and our whole family throughout, and it was them who identified when it was time for her to come into the hospice for her final few days.
The minute we came into the Hospice we realised what an incredibly special place it was. It was so calm, and everyone was so kind. They allowed us to just be with her, without any pressure, and made sure she was comfortable and surrounded by our family right to the end. I can’t thank them enough for everything they did.
Even now, three years on, I still feel supported by the hospice with invitations to these remembrance events. Trees of Love gives me another way to remember Cath at this special time of year. Although there’s no actual event this year, I’m looking forward to the film as it means that the whole family can be involved; even our children who live far away and wouldn’t usually be able to attend, can watch the film and remember their unforgettable mum.”
Trees of Love, east Kent’s largest remembrance services, will this year be transformed into a remembrance you enjoy from the comfort and safety of home.
Instead of our usual remembrance events with carols, those taking part will be sent a beautiful dove to dedicate and hang on your Christmas tree, or in a special place at home.
Then on Saturday 5th December 2020 at 5pm we will release a Trees of Love 2020 remembrance service for you to watch on the Pilgrims Hospices YouTube channel and website.
To take part click here to complete the online donation form, or contact Supporter Relations on 01227 782062.
Each year Pilgrims Hospices give care and comfort to over 2,500 people in east Kent who are coming to terms with an illness that sadly cannot be cured. The charity support patients to live life as well as possible until the very end, free from pain and distress.
