Wellbeing

Breathlessness can be a very limiting symptom that stops you being able to do the things that you want to do. Our Living Well with Breathlessness sessions run over three weeks and will help you to understand your breathlessness. You will also learn strategies that may help you to better manage your breathlessness and the impact that it has on your everyday. Living Well with Breathlessness runs as a group so you will also have the opportunity to meet those in similar situations.

Once you have completed the three sessions, there is then the option of attending an exercise class for six weeks with the physiotherapist in our gym. The aim of this class is to build up your strength and to practice the techniques you have learnt in a safe space.

We will discuss and explore techniques for living well with fatigue. We will look at how we can support you, the things you do, and how to make the most of the space around you.

The sessions are run by the Occupational therapist within the Rehabilitation and Wellbeing team and will include discussions, some gentle movement and exercise and the opportunity to try relaxation techniques.

Sessions will be held on a Monday and participants will require access to the internet and a device they can access the internet on. For further information, please contact us on rehab@gbch.org.uk

This warm and welcoming group runs for ten weeks at a time and is for those living with dementia and their loved ones/carers. It provides an opportunity to meet others from the local area who are in a similar situation.

Each week there is a different activity to get stuck into. Recently we have had an artist take us through creating autumnal leaf prints, a live band getting us up and dancing, raucous games of bingo, and Christmas wreath making with our gardener.

Because this group happens at the hospice, there is also opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about dementia itself, navigating services, or other support that the hospice might be able to provide.

This group meets in-person at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice every other month, and online in between times. It is for anyone with a confirmed diagnosis of interstitial disease and those that are important in their lives. Each month there is a talk from an expert about a different area of interstitial lung disease. In recent times we have heard from a speech & language therapist, a research fellow and a pharmacist about where and how we might meet them. There is then time to meet and chat with others from the local area who are in a similar situation.

This group is run in partnership with the Interstitial Lung Disease team from Guy’s Hospital and Action for Pulmonary Fibrosis.

As conditions progress, completing day to day activities such as bathing or showering can become more difficult. If your palliative condition is stopping you from being able to access your bathroom, shower or bath at home, then you might be able to book in to use our accessible shower room here at the hospice. Your loved ones, or carers, can come with you. Alternatively, we can have one of our trained carers help you with showering.

Through using the showering service, you will also have an opportunity to talk to a member of our Wellbeing team about how things are going for you at the moment, and whether there is anything else that we can help you with.

We are very lucky at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice to be surrounded by such beautiful woodland and scenery. Getting out in nature is good for the body and mind.

Every Wednesday at 10am we meet at the cricket nets on Bostall Heath to complete a walk around the local area. You do need to be of a relatively good level of fitness as we walk along uneven ground in the woods. This walk is attended by one of our Wellbeing team and one of our Counsellors, if you need to have a deeper chat with someone. Afterwards, we pop back to the hospice for a cup of tea.

Come and see us at the hospice every Wednesday at 1:30pm! This is a drop-in session, so no pre-booking is required. Come for a look around and find out what we do here. Come and chat with a member of our Wellbeing team about how we might be able to support you or someone you know. Just come for a cup of tea, slice of cake and to meet new people. We’d love to have you.

Staying independent is of key importance to a lot of those that we meet here at Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice. This Pilates-based class is run by our physiotherapist and focuses on improving your strength, balance and ability to exercise – all of these are key for staying as independent as possible for as long as possible. Even if you’ve never been to an exercise class before, come and give it a go, you might just enjoy yourself!