Easing the burden: Our Wellbeing Support Sessions are providing a safe haven for those in our care

Late in 2022, Weldmar introduced groundbreaking new Wellness Support Sessions. It was a new look to what used to be Day Services, with new tailored activities now welcoming patients, their carers, and bereaved relatives. Attendees can choose weekly arts and crafts, gardening, board games, pamper and relaxation, and other themed sessions.

As this new service passes its first anniversary, we speak to Wilda Ayres about the impact attending the weekly choir has had on her, since losing her husband, Chris, in April 2023.

“It’s so joyful!”, says Wilda, breaking into a lovely, warm smile. “You come in, everybody knows you and says hello. Jenny plays the piano, we start singing, and we laugh and chat and it lifts me so much. I always look forward to Wednesday afternoon, even though I can’t sing for peanuts! Everyone does it for the fun and camaraderie.”

Wilda says that it’s all about being around people who are going through similar experiences to her own. “Nobody’s going to say the wrong thing in front of you, because we’re all going through the same thing. Outside of this, people often don’t understand and don’t know what to say.”

When her husband, Chris, was referred to Weldmar in 2022, he and Wilda were visited at home by their Weldmar Community Nurse, who explained the support that was available for both of them.

Wilda admits she was unaware about the breadth of support available for her after Chris had died. “I got a letter of condolence from Weldmar, which said that if I ever needed anything I could give them a call. It also included a little pamphlet about a monthly counselling coffee morning. It took me a couple of months to decide to go, and once I did I was introduced to the Wellbeing Support Sessions.”

“The team here are so empathetic, but only when they need to be. A couple of weeks ago I was feeling really low. Since my husband passed away I hadn’t really cried. But that day, I felt safe enough that when asked if I was okay, I burst into tears. I don’t know why, but I knew I was there with people I could be safe with. I think that’s what these sessions are for, to make you feel comfortable and share your own feelings.”

It’s not just Wilda who has been helped by Weldmar’s Patient and Family Support Services. “When we found out that Chris was terminally ill, we had a then seven year old grandson, who was very close to his grandfather. He was really struggling, and Weldmar arranged for their Children and Young Person’s Counsellor, Sandra, to go and speak to him at school.”

“I can’t thank the team here enough. I can’t thank Weldmar enough. They’ve been absolutely brilliant.”

Thank you to Wilda for sharing her story.

If you would like to share your story of care provided by Weldmar Hospicecare, or something that you are doing to fundraise for us, we would love to hear from you. Please contact james.oneill@weld-hospice.org.uk.