Gardening with your grandchildren. Gaining confidence to volunteer. Feeling like yourself again. Not things you’d expect from a hospice – but at St Michael’s Hospice they’re part of everyday life.
Wellbeing assistant Andrea shares insight into her role supporting people through the Hospice’s Wellbeing Programme.
Tell us about your role at St Michael’s Hospice.
As a wellbeing assistant, I work in a team of four and our main goal is to support people with physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs through our Wellbeing Programme and one-to-one support. We work very closely with our occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, and the spiritual support team, as well as doctors and the inpatient and community nurse-led teams – we’re all part of one big multidisciplinary team.
We support people at any stage of their journey with the Hospice. Most of whom live in their own homes, but we also support some on our In-Patient Unit. Our aim is to support and encourage people to remain independent and active for as long as they can. We’re there at a time where they might feel they’re not allowed or unable to do something, so it’s about empowering people to continue to be themselves.
Our Wellbeing Programme offers a range of groups from Tai Chi to Breathlessness Support – our groups are tailored to the needs of the people we work with. Some people come with a set goal in mind, others just come to be in the space and share time with others who understand what they’re going through. We’re also here to help family and friends – anyone who is looking after the person with a life-limiting illness and needs some support too.
It’s a role that has a lot of scope for just being present with somebody and thinking out of the box to support them. So, it’s a very enabling role. I definitely look forward to coming into work every day.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Every day is different, because every person we support is different. We tend to start the day by joining the In-Patient Unit handover to find out if anyone needs our support on the ward. Then the wellbeing assistants have a quick meeting to plan out the groups – who is attending, what their needs are, and who is facilitating.
Tasks for the day might include supporting a carer, speaking to patients on the phone, or spending time with them at the Hospice. We also work closely with other teams to make sure each person gets the support they need.
What’s your favourite memory of working at the Hospice?
There was a person who came to the gardening group, unsure if it was for him. He had little gardening knowledge, but after a number of weeks, he started taking bulbs and tomato plants home. This activity helped him engage with his grandchildren and he found something new to enjoy towards the end of his life – it was very rewarding to be part of.
After he died, the family had the plants he’d grown and the memories of taking care of them together. Hearing his wife talk about the pleasure he got from gardening and spending time with his family was very rewarding and left me feeling as though I was doing the right job. My job is about helping someone achieve something that people don’t often think is possible near the end of life.
What has surprised you about working for a hospice?
The ability to give people our time, which brings real benefits to their lives. We tend to see people at an earlier stage of their illness – those who can come into the Hospice and do activities. Once we’ve supported them, they may not need us for a while, but they know we’re at the end of a phone.
We also help people find the support they need locally – it’s really important to help people stay within their community.
And finally, what’s a moment you’re proud to have supported?
We supported an individual who participated in the Wellbeing Programme. By joining the groups, she built up her confidence and now volunteers with us in the Hospice café. Seeing her find a new sense of purpose and belonging has been truly rewarding.
Hospice care isn’t just about the end of life – it’s about making the most of every day.
Visit our Wellbeing Programme page to find out more.
