Paul Sartori Hospice at Home were awarded a Grant during 2020 following an application made to the Supporting Community Action Fund. The Grant, coordinated by PAVS (Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services), paves the way for a different approach in the delivery of the Complementary Therapy support delivered by the team at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.
The award of £2,478.50 was given to assist the local charity to support end of life patients, their families and/or carers living in Pembrokeshire and to assist clients with remote Complementary Therapy support. The award also covers the cost of developing new skills and training for the team, including volunteers and new marketing materials for the service.
Heather Green, the Complementary Therapy Team Coordinator, who is coordinating this project based this idea on the need to do things differently, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This new project focuses on delivering alternative therapies that are specific for the client and can be administered by the client, helping individuals to continue to self-isolate but access support. A telephone assessment enables the team to identify the best form of help and discussions form the basis for supplying a “self-help tool kit” consisting of either aromatherapy based creams, inhalers or roll-on blends. The “self-help tool kit” is developed by the Complementary Therapy team and delivered to clients in Pembrokeshire.
“We are so grateful for the support we have had from the PAVS grant, enabling the Complementary Therapy Service to support our clients in a variety of different ways during this pandemic”, said Heather Green. “Our hands-on therapies and close contact services have been restricted but our patients and carers have been able to use aromatherapy based products especially made up by our qualified therapists to help promote wellbeing and relaxation,” explained Heather.
One client who uses the roller-ball blend to help her sleep has reports: “I have been very happy using the relaxation pulse point roller ball every night before bed. It seems to slow me down and it is definitely doing something for me”. Another client uses the aroma stick inhaler during the night upon waking: “It works wonders – keeps my mind from working – helps me get back to sleep.” These tailor-made products are made for individual clients to assist with a range of symptoms from anxiety and poor sleep or to help energise and combat fatigue.
The COVID-19 – Supporting Community Action Fund was supported by Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services (PAVS), Comic Relief, Pembrokeshire County Council, West Wales Care Partnership and Welsh Government. The first round helped voluntary groups survive the economic impact of COVID-19, while Round 2, which supported Paul Sartori Hospice at Home, encouraged first steps towards regenerating community action, confidence and enjoyment. It was also supported innovative ways of working, building on lessons learned during the crisis.
“The fantastic service offered by Paul Sartori Hospice at Home is a good example of the dedicated work supported by the fund in Pembrokeshire,” said Caroline Marmara of PAVS.
“We are delighted, and very grateful to the Supporting Community Action Fund team for awarding a grant for this project. Grants of this nature are essential, particularly at this time where other funds are hard to come by,” said Judith Williams, Grants Coordinator at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.
This project is part of an ongoing development for the Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Complementary Therapy Service. It is part of a range of fundraising initiatives to fund this essential service delivered in the county which supplements the statutory provision. ‘Stepping Stone to Hope’ is another campaign to continue to provide tailored guidance and self-help techniques. This co-op community assisted project has just been launched and is seeking support to continue the self-help tool kit idea to promote sleep, calm and relaxation.
For more information, visit: https://membership.coop.co.uk/causes/47155
If a patient or carer would like to find out more about this new service offered by the Paul Sartori Complementary Therapy Team, please phone the Complementary Therapy Health & Wellbeing Advice Line.
This is a free service for adults living with a life-limiting condition and for their carers. Phone: 07917 074300, or visit their website www.paulsartori.org for more information