"Excellent service provided"

Oakhaven Wellbeing (Day Hospice)

I have been attending Oakhaven Wellbeing for about a year. I have had parkinsons for about 17 years since diagnosis and now am physically quite slow. My wife gets exhausted - doing what every wife has to do and a lot of jobs a husband would normally do too.

I am collected at 10am by a volunteer driver, who takes me back home again at 2:30pm, for which I am very grateful.

On arrival at Oakhaven, I am given a menu sheet with a choice of meals for lunch, I am offered either a chance to talk about my current problems privately or a hand/foot massage. After lunch there is always some entertainment, such as a singer, a slideshow or handbell ringers.

About half an hour before lunch we are invited to join the chaplain in the chapel, where we chat about how we're getting on, or put the world to rights! The chaplain usually reads a prayer and we say the lords prayer at the end. I really appreciate this. It gives a more rounded ministry to the other healing work of Oakhaven Hospice: physical, psychological, complimentary, social and spiritual.

A 3 course lunch is provided. Care is taken to advise patients on suitable foods, recommended by the speech therapists. I once choked on a grape (at home) when I chose fresh fruit salad on one occasion later, the nurse suggested that apple crumble would be a better option. I quote this incident the care and commitment shown by staff. I feel this is a good illustration of the excellent service provided by Oakhaven Day Care. My wife benefits greatly from knowing that I am being well looked after while she has some much needed free time.