"I didn't get to know about the hospice straight away. My husband went three to four weeks for one day a week to another place to give me a break but he hated it. He was left sat in his wheel chair all day and no one spoke to him, so we stopped it."
"Nobody had told me what the hospice does. Our doctor was the one who told me about it. The hospice called us and invited us to have a look around. It was so different, so nice and relaxing. They showed us the kitchens, the bedrooms and my husband started going once a week. It gave me a few hours to myself - to go shopping, get my hair done or whatever."
"He was happy there. They put him in a comfortable chair. People talked to him. They have so many volunteers and everyone has someone to talk to. They even took him on a boat trip before Christmas and he had Christmas dinner on the boat which he really enjoyed. The staff were marvellous - they do a marvellous job."
Caring and volunteering
Anne continues:
"I didn't class myself as a carer - he was my husband and I know he would have done the same for me. But my links to the hospice didn't end there."
"After he died the hospice asked me if I'd like to join their carer user group (a group which both supports carers and works on projects to help them) and I decided I would. It's nice to keep in touch and those of us who have lost someone are able to support those who are still going through it."
"You develop a very special bond with other carers. We meet regularly and there are services, such as video conference links for carers and telephone contact where several carers can all talk to each other without leaving the house - because you can feel very isolated when you are caring for someone."
"I'm thinking of becoming a hospice volunteer in time, when I feel ready. I'm so grateful for the help we got. They gave me so much, I want to give something back."
