As Christmas approaches and the festivities are in full swing, here at Harbour Housing the realities of life are at the forefront of our minds, as we say goodbye to one of our special residents, this week, within our End-Of-Life care provision.
‘Wojciech was a humble man who hardly ever asked for anything. He stayed by himself in his room watching Netflix in Polish. He didn’t want anyone to know he was dying. As he grew weaker, he never complained about being in pain. When I asked if he wanted to go food shopping, he replied ‘No energy’ using Google Translate on his phone. I was surprised he passed away as quickly as he did. It is good to know he didn’t suffer for a long period. The carers, doctors and district nurses treated him very well. Wojciech was so grateful for being able to stay here that he said he wanted to leave everything he had to Harbour Housing. Before working at Pilgrim’s Pride in Redruth for over 12 years, Wojciech used to drive lorries between Poland and Germany. During his four-and-a-half-month stay with us, he pretty much only left his room to go shopping or to the doctor. I took him to Charlestown harbour once and he stood motionless watching the sea from the pier for 20 minutes. We will miss him.’ – Support worker, Harbour Housing
At Harbour Housing we focus on the care, comfort and a person’s wishes, with our elastic tolerance approach for clients with a serious illness, who are approaching the end of life. Until six months ago, Wojciech had been working full time and living in his car, due to the housing crisis in Cornwall. After being admitted to hospital and being referred into our Hospital Discharge project, It was his wishes, to cherish the opportunity to spend his final months in his own space, where he was as able to live the way he wanted; free from judgment within our accommodation. This was the place where he felt at home, surrounded by the familiar faces of support workers, rather than being alone in hospital.
‘The thing that has struck me the most, is the immense pride that I have felt, for how the team have held themselves with such composure during this challenging time. Their compassion and the respect for this gentleman’s End Of Life wishes, not only gave him the dignity he deserved, but their actions have prevented a sense of stigma that may have otherwise been connected to this gentleman.’- Team Lead, Hospital Discharge, Outreach and Harbour Care, Harbour Housing.
The initial challenge when Wojciech was first referred to us, was the language barrier, as he spoke limited English and staff were unable to communicate with him verbally, with no experience with the Polish language. To overcome this challenge, we purchased a tablet and a translator, so that he could be in touch with his family in Poland and so that he was able to communicate his needs and ask for support from us. Everyone involved handled a difficult situation with so much dignity and care. The kindness and understanding from Support staff, District Nurses, Macmillan nurses and everyone involved, made a huge difference during this tough time.
Research demonstrates that individuals who choose to pass away in a place where they feel the most comfortable, typically experience a smoother, more peaceful transition compared to those in a hospital setting. Doctors often state that terminally ill patients express three primary reasons for desiring to pass away at home: the comfort of a familiar setting and support, the wish to be in a setting which feels less clinical and a place where they can make their own choices without judgement.
We understand that the transition from life to death is a delicate journey. It is essential to focus on a person’s values and priorities so that they can make informed choices. As an organisation, that is primarily person-centred, we are grateful to be a part of people’s lives and to be able to support them throughout all of their choices, without judgement. We are all unique, with different needs, and to experience staff, showing such understanding and compassion truly embodies the values we strive to uphold at Harbour.
For support, go to the Harbour Housings website and click on MAKE A REFERRAL
MACMILLAN End OF Life support
https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/treatment/if-you-have-an-advanced-cancer/end-of-life
9th September
Cultural feast shared by staff celebrates diversity and inclusion.
Harbour Housing recognised the generosity of one of its own colleagues through its Act of Kindness Award, celebrating the everyday
23rd June
13th June
9th June
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22nd May
