Why 'The way we talk about Dying Matters'
Today kicks off #DyingMattersWeek, and we can't wait to join Hospice UK's conversation and show that #TheWayWeTalkAboutDyingMatters
Throughout the week, we'll be sharing lots of helpful information, resources, and stories, across our social media channels and in person at Bolton Central Library, all to help encourage conversations about dying - a difficult topic, but an important one to broach with your friends and family.
Somebody who has experienced the care and support at Bolton Hospice, and who knows that 'The way we talk about Dying Matters', is Rosie.
As well as regularly attending our Wellbeing Hub, Rosie has also spent time as an inpatient at the hospice. She's a big supporter of Bolton Hospice, and regularly speaks out how important our services are for herself, and others in need of palliative and end of life care.
"I’m a big supporter of the hospice because I’ve seen from the inside what it does. I’ve seen it from all sides. To be honest, when I was an outpatient I thought, well, I'll never use a hospice. I'm just not ill enough to use a hospice. But actually, I have a terminal heart failure diagnosis, and I needed the hospice. I needed that support. This is my fifth time now as an inpatient; every time I become very ill and have a crisis with my heart and lungs, they take me in and help me recover from it. They’re amazing. Absolutely amazing.
"They encouraged me back into life because I'd kind of shut down a bit. When you've had a major trauma like that, it's not just your body that shuts down, your mind shuts down as well. And you think, what's the point in going on?
"But when I came here, it wrapped itself around me. It was like a beautiful, warm, encouraging coat. And it sort of enticed me out again into the world."
"As well as the inpatient unit, they have a flexible, drop-in day service called the Wellbeing Hub, and there’s a Creative Therapy department which is always buzzing. Buzzing with people and energy. There are music events as well, where they have guitarists and they have a harpist who comes in and plays. There’s also a group who help people with lung fibrosis.
"There's a great need for the hospice for people who are in similar positions to me. The hospital cannot cope with people like me. They're more for your emergency. You know, being run over or had a stroke. Yeah. But when it comes to dealing with people who are a bit closer to death, we need this sort of facility. They're so knowledgeable in palliative care, they are the experts, and they give their everything."
Rosie's story is just one of many which highlight the importance of hospice care, and why it matters how we talk about dying.
From 7th-10th May Bolton Hospice will be at Bolton Central Library, sharing more stories and resources and continuing the conversation around dying.