Supporting you to live well

Supporting you to live well

Courses to help you live as well as you can, in the way you choose choice, independence, enjoyment

What are Living Well courses?

Our free Living Well courses take place on Fridays and are designed for people with a serious progressive illness to help them to learn new skills, strategies and techniques through education, exercise, therapies, creativity, relaxation, and group support.

The courses are open to people living with a condition such as cancer, heart failure, chronic respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, Parkinson’s disease and motor neurone disease and who are registered with a south Worcestershire GP. With many courses participants will be encouraged to practice techniques to learn how to manage symptoms at home; to help gain the maximum benefit from the course and develop confidence to continue practising once the course has come to an end.

As the Living Well programme is individually tailored to your specific needs and goals, it begins with a short assessment, which lasts up to an hour. At the end of the assessment you may be offered an individual programme (which may be one or more of the courses below) or signposted to an alternative service.

During your Living Well programme you will be offered a re-assessment at key points. Once you have come to the end of your programme you may wish to look at community-based projects and activities to continue to practice your skills and benefit from the courses you attended.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer Coping with illness - 6 - 8 week course This is an informative and supportive group to help people manage and live well with lifelimiting conditions.

It will be an opportunity to share and learn from others who are going through similar challenges and provide practical and emotional coping strategies.

The programme includes: dealing with stress, worry and uncertainty; communicating with others; tips for managing breathlessness and fatigue; coping with pain; the emotional journey and adjusting to the new me. The content is flexible and other topics chosen by the group can be included.

Relaxation - 6 week course This course aims to help individuals learn why and how we need to relax.

Relaxation is helpful if you are experiencing anxiety, sleep disturbance, pain, nausea, breathlessness or fatigue and enhances your general well-being.

We will teach and encourage people to practice a range of techniques with the intention that one or more will become meaningful to them and be used in their everyday living.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer

Adapted T'ai Chi - 6 week course T'ai Chi consists of exercises, which combine deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements.

The exercises are recognised as being good for stress, breathing, balance, blood pressure and general health.

Classes are suitable for all conditions and can be adapted to meet individual needs.

Two classes are available with one all-seated class and a second which involves some standing activity.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer

Managing your breathlessness - 6 week course This course gives an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation, find out strategies to help, discuss how being breathless affects people and receive support and advice for coping.

The course covers understanding of how breathing works and skills to bring episodes of breathlessness under control. A carer may attend with a patient if considered helpful.

Fatigue Management - 4 week course These sessions are useful for people struggling with fatigue.

They are designed to help them cope with the symptoms of extreme physical or mental tiredness.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer

Sharing stories - 5 week course Therapeutic, creative and fulfilling - share stories based on memories, images and personal experiences to help express feelings, thoughts and emotions. Build a personal history of your life experiences to take away with you.

Arts and crafts - a variety of 4 - 6 week painting and craft courses Take time out, relax, be creative and learn new skills. The timetable is variable and covers: exploring different painting techniques and a variety of arts and crafts; courses on card making, jewellery making, felting techniques as well as the occasional flower arranging classes.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer Finding inner peace - 6 week course In a busy world the opportunity for finding inner peace is challenging. This course is designed to support those seeking tranquillity and meaning in their journey through life. “Finding inner peace� will be led by members of the chaplaincy team and will explore spirituality using poetry, music, art and all of our 5 senses.

It is designed to be suitable for all searching for answers, whether in faith or elsewhere.

Pilgrim Course: the Lord's Prayer - 6 week course This is suitable for those who have a faith and those who are exploring what they believe. It will be led by members of the chaplaincy team.

Each session includes a reflection and a film clip based on a different aspect of the Christian faith.

Those of other faiths are welcome to participate.

Alternatively, if you would prefer to attend a course more specific to your own religious background, the chaplaincy team are willing to discuss this with you and with our local faith leaders.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer

The Tree of Life - 3 sessions The Tree of Life is based on narrative therapy that focuses on culture, heritage, spirituality, strengths and hope.

The tree is used as a metaphor for life and by the end of the group each person will have a tree that represents different positive elements of life that can be taken home. It takes place over three sessions with the chance to get to know others in the group.

There is no minimum requirement for drawing or creativity - it does not matter how good you are at drawing as all supplies and tree templates are provided.

It offers a chance to explore and reconnect with what is important to you through the medium of art, creativity and fun!

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer

Men's Space - fortnightly for 6 - 8 sessions

The Men's Space group provides the opportunity for males to meet others in a similar situation.

The ethos of the group is of care, support and a sense of fun, humour and enjoyment.

The group meets fortnightly for six to eight sessions and enjoys activities such as talks from a range of guest speakers and some relaxing social time.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Courses on offer Horticultural Therapy - 6 week course

This course will aim to demonstrate how to continue an interest in horticulture and gardening with changed abilities or to discover a new skill which is both pleasurable and peaceful.

It is an opportunity to continue with the feeling of connection to nature and the environment; to meet like minded people with a similar interest and share experiences and knowledge.

Horticulture and gardening have many known therapeutic, exercise and wellbeing benefits.

They can support the body to be active and help with stress management.

Come along and participate in a fun, simple and enjoyable activity. There will be mostly table top gardening and similar activities, planting seeds and nurturing growth.

choice, independence, enjoyment

Signing up and getting here Our Living Well courses are co-ordinated and run by a wide range of hospice staff with support from trained volunteers. If appropriate, you may be referred to other hospice services.

Please note we are not able to administer medications at Living Well.

Please contact the Gateway team if you have any questions or to discuss referral to the Living Well courses on 01905 763963.

We are unable to provide transport for the Living Well sessions. We do have a free car park and are easily reached by a regular bus service.

St Richard's Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester, WR5 2QT

choice, independence, enjoyment

St Richard's Hospice

St Richard's Hospice is an independent charity and relies on voluntary donations and gifts in Wills to continue to care for patients and their loved ones.

St Richard’s Hospice is inspected and regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

If you have any reason to comment upon any of the services provided by our organisation please don’t hesitate to contact: Tracey Grint, Care Quality Lead.

St Richard’s Hospice, Wildwood Drive, Worcester WR5 2QT Tel: 01905 763963. Email: Tracey.Grint@strichards.org.uk Please contact us if you require this leaflet in another language or alternative format.

May 2019

choice, independence, enjoyment