"My Gran"

My gran was admitted to the accord Hospice for end-of-life care last summer.

As a family it was an uncertain time for us all, a very scary time with a lot of unanswered questions in our minds and a constant worry of what lied ahead within the next few weeks or months.

However, all that uncertainty soon changed upon our first interaction with the Accord Hospice. We were comforted from the very first phone call and when the time sadly came for my gran to be admitted into the hospice, we were met with a sense of calmness and ease, as a result of the assurance and comfort provided by every single member of staff involved at that time.

Our questions were met with knowledgeable responses coupled with compassion and genuine empathy. This was also mirrored in the care that my gran received from day 1. She was treated with an unbelievable level of kindness and respect and essentially learned to come to terms with her illness whilst having a hand to hold along the way.

Every day we were met with a friendly face and a when times got a little tough there was always someone to talk to, to listen and to understand. To say the care my gran received was nothing short of outstanding would be an understatement. This level of care was also extended to our family and while looking after my gran the hospice staff were also supporting us as well, I can’t thank them enough for looking after us all in those unsettling months.

It’s a somewhat strange statement to say but my grans mood improved as soon as she had entered the hospice, her pain was now getting under control and her needs were constantly met. It felt like we all let out a sigh of relief – including my gran.

I can say with confidence she formed genuine friendships in the care received from the doctors, nurses and volunteers who helped her in her final few months. It wasn’t only medical care it was companionship. A real blessing for my gran in her most difficult weeks.

Everyone soon became part of the family, and it was comforting to see my gran often share a smile, let out a laugh and even dance to music in the last few precious months of her life.

I genuinely believe the level of care received by the Accord Hospice is what spurred on my grans spirit. She saw family milestones in which we had sadly prepared ourselves for her absence, celebrated graduations, and birthdays. However, most of all she continued to make precious memories with us in the little moments– spending our days talking about memories, laughing about family parties, and talking about her childhood. Something I will forever treasure for the rest of my life.

As a family we will forever hold Accord Hospice close to our hearts as we can’t thank them enough for the respect, dignity and kindness shown to my gran in her final weeks of life.