Living Well Services: Support in the comfort of your community

At Rowans Hospice, we understand that not everyone can easily access our Living Well Centre in Waterlooville. That is why, alongside our Living Well Services, we offer community hubs across the local area. These hubs provide a safe and welcoming space for people affected by a life-limiting illness to access support closer to home.

Whether it’s our Gosport Hub, Hayling Island Hub, or Portsmouth Hub, our dedicated teams are here to help patients and their loved ones find comfort, guidance, and community.

One moving story comes from a couple who sought support at our Gosport Hub after having received difficult news regarding a possible cancer diagnosis. Understandably, until they had confirmation, they felt lost and unable to move forward both emotionally and practically.

After reaching out to us, our Staff Nurse, Helen, got in touch with them and supported them at their pace, saying “I drop the anchors down and just go at their pace”. Supporting both a patient and their loved one during difficult times can be complex as they both have different needs, and at times, loved ones need just as much support and guidance.

A few weeks later, the couple received confirmation that the Husband had cancer and was given a prognosis of 6 to 12 months. They returned to the Gosport Community Hub, where they met with Helen, during this time, they were both tearful and worried, but Helen spent the time listening to their news, concerns and what to do moving forward. The couple decided to keep visiting the Gosport Hub weekly as they found it accessible and exactly what they felt they needed.

Our Living Well Services also support during bereavement, with another story from our Gosport Hub of an individual who had recently lost their Mum and wanted to access a service local to them.

At Rowans Hospice, we understand how difficult it is to take that first step of looking for support, especially in a situation where they were unable to say goodbye in the way they had planned. Due to this they had suffered from a lack of sleep, our team suggested that they attend a Hypnotherapy appointment at our Living Well Centre, with the help of one of our volunteer drivers. Although nervous, they felt they were able to relax, enjoy the session and even re-booked another one.

In their own time, they went back to the Gosport Community Hub to speak to Helen and meet other service users, allowing them to share experiences and feel support from people who could empathise. Our community hubs are a safe space to share experiences, find comfort and even build friendships at a time when people may feel more alone than ever.

Our Living Well Services support people regardless of diagnosis and understand how difficult looking after someone with an illness can be. At our community hubs, we provide a safe environment for all individuals to come and discuss our services, seek guidance or simply come for a chat at their own pace. For more information on our Living Well Courses, Community Hubs, or guidance through a life-limiting illness, please visit our Living Well Services page where you can get in touch with a member of the team.