Hospice Awareness Week 2023

May 15th, 2023

Every day Hospice cares for people and their whānau in the final chapter of their lives. Now we are bringing their stories to life in a heartwarming and insightful video series.

Hospice patients and people whose loved ones were cared for by Hospice, share their emotional experiences in the hope that others will be OK about opening up and reaching out to Hospice for help.

Over three million of us tend to feel anxious and uncomfortable when thinking about a loved one dying (69%). These stories shine a spotlight on how Hospice care helps to make that journey a little easier.

Dying is not an easy subject to talk about. We don’t know what to say and we’re afraid we’ll say the wrong thing. This campaign features Hospice patients and whānau sharing their emotional experiences in the hope that others will be OK about opening up and reach out to Hospice for help.

Everyone’s story is unique, but feelings are universal and whatever you feel, is OK. If we can open up; if we can talk about dying and be OK with all the feelings we have; we can make the most of life right until the end. Hospice helps people get through.

You are welcome to view the videos below so you can understand a little more of the breadth and value of Hospice care. Please show your support this Hospice Awareness Week (15-21 May) so we can continue our life-changing services.

Meet Eileen

Eileen is a patient of Mary Potter Hospice and shares her experience of hospice care. “Hospice helped me with everything. That’s why I can walk around smiling, because I’ve got nothing to worry about now.”

Meet Latoya

Latoya shares how talking about dying has helped her and her family. “The topic is so depressing and so sad and so taboo but yet it’s one of the most natural things that happens in life…you live and you die… why I’m so comfortable now is because it is something we can talk about.”

Meet Vicki

Vicky shares her experience of losing her son and the care Hospice provided them. “I felt love bigger, I felt grief bigger, I felt pain bigger. Everything was exaggerated, so when you feel the love and support it has an even bigger meaning than it would if you weren’t going through something like that.”

Meet Haley

Haley shares her story of losing a close friend and supporting another friend who is dying. “Just normalise it. Make it OK. It does make it easier. It is so important to talk about it because when you ignore it, it makes it incredibly difficult.”

Please show your support this Hospice Awareness Week (15-21 May) so we can continue our life-changing services.