Making every moment matter for families in Dorset

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We've put together some commonly asked questions to give you more information about Weldmar and the services we offer.

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Weldmar Hospicecare

Light up a Life

Lighting up memories for those we miss.

Light up a Life is an opportunity for you to remember those who are sadly no longer with us at Christmas.

Dedicate a light to a loved one, and join us at our special services of remembrance across Dorset.

Online Light up a Life Service

Watch our 2024 online service below.

You can dedicate a light for a loved one here.

If you attended a Light up a Life service and feel that you would like to talk to someone, we can arrange a call for you with a member of our Patient and Family Support Services team. Please call 01305 215300 in office hours.

 

Remembering loved ones at Christmas

Christmas can be especially difficult as we contemplate spending this special time of year without a loved one. The joy and celebration can make their absence particularly noticeable.

Light up a Life is an opportunity to remember, celebrate, and be thankful for the love and joy they brought us.

You can dedicate a light in their memory on one of our Light up a Life trees, at the venues where we are holding our special services. We also host an online service for those unable to attend in person.

Dedicating a light also means that you continue to support Weldmar Hospicecare, as your donation will go directly towards our specialist care for adults in Dorset who have a life limiting illness, and support for their loved ones.

You can dedicate a light to anyone, whether they were cared for by Weldmar or not.

 

Lighting up memories for those we miss across Dorset this December Weldmar Staff with stars

Your Light up a Life Pack

If you dedicate a light, you will receive a Light up a Life pack, which includes a special wooden star to hang on your own tree, or on your local Light up a Life tree.

It also includes your order of service, which you can bring along to any of the services we hold, or use to follow the online Light up a Life service.

All those who have a light dedicated to them will also be recorded in our Book of Remembrance.

Dedicating a light to your loved one will help us provide care and support to people like Joyce and Nobby

“It was almost like she’d been a family friend for years,” says Joyce, recalling how Weldmar Community Nurse Tash came into their home for the first time. “Nobby loved her from the start. She made us feel so much brighter. Every visit lifted us.”

Joyce and Nobby (pictured) were married for 66 years, and lived in rural West Dorset. What should have been a routine visit to the dentist for Nobby led to a shock diagnosis of cancer, and he was referred to Weldmar. Tash called, and arranged to see them.

Tash explained her role was to discuss their anxieties, to offer advice on how to best manage symptoms, and how to make Nobby feel as comfortable as possible. She told them more about the other services provided by Weldmar, and when Joyce asked her how much this would cost, she was astonished to discover it was all provided for free.

 

“We had no idea all this help was available to us,” explains Joyce. “Every time Tash came, she would explain what would happen next, and knowing what was to come was really useful. She always took time to answer our questions. She included our son, Andrew, who lives hundreds of miles away. We would call him on Facetime and he could ask questions and feel reassured that Nobby was in the best hands.”

It was important to Nobby and Joyce that he stayed at home, so when he needed more help Weldmar at Home began to visit twice a day. “Beata was wonderful. She did everything that Nobby wanted. She changed him. She would shave him. She even helped him to shower when he wanted it —once getting herself soaked in the process!

Bonnie was so kind. I couldn’t believe how caring she is for a young person. They would arrive, give me a hug and ask how things were. They were always cheerful. On Nobby’s birthday, they sang happy birthday and he couldn’t stop smiling. I just can’t praise them enough. Nothing was too much trouble. I offered to help but they would insist I go and have a cup of tea.”

The care for Joyce didn’t stop when Nobby died. Tash called round to check in on how she was doing, and Anneliese, from Weldmar’s Complementary Therapy service, visited to give a gentle massage. “She chatted to me about all sorts of things. It really helped me to relax, and I felt I could get on with things. I felt so cared for, and that Weldmar were rooting for me. It was lovely, it really was.”

Dedicate a light in memory of a loved one

Please fill in the form below to dedicate a light, on one of our trees across Dorset, in memory of a loved one. If you have any problems with the form, or would rather speak to a member of our team, please call 01305 261800.

Thanks to our Light up a Life supporters

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