The Wellbeing Centre

Our Wellbeing Breathlessness Programme is designed to help you understand and manage your breathlessness more effectively, enabling you to feel more confident and in control of your symptoms. The programme focuses on understanding the experience of breathlessness and explores practical ways to reduce its impact on your daily life. This includes breathing techniques and pacing strategies that can help ease episodes of breathlessness, as well as advice on energy conservation, positioning, relaxation, and managing everyday activities.

We also recognise that breathlessness can affect more than just physical health. Feelings of anxiety, worry, or loss of confidence can sometimes make symptoms feel worse. The programme therefore explores the relationship between breathlessness, thoughts, emotions, and activity levels, helping you to develop effective coping strategies and improve your overall wellbeing.

The programme consists of three sessions delivered by experienced members of our multidisciplinary team, including a nurse, physiotherapist, and occupational therapist. Each professional brings specialist knowledge and practical advice to support you in managing your symptoms and maintaining independence. Sessions can be attended either in person at the Wellbeing Centre or online from the comfort of your own home, providing flexibility to suit your needs.

Being a carer can be positive and rewarding, but at the same time you need some time for yourself. These sessions provide you with the opportunity to meet with others in a similar situation, gain support and share experiences and advice.

We have face to face sessions with our Wellbeing Team for anyone caring for a loved-one. Our rolling programme of sessions covers:

• Being a Carer, An opportunity to meet other people caring for a loved one and to talk with our experienced staff
• Eating well – you and the person you are caring for, A session about what to expect when preparing meals for the person you care for and look at ways to encourage them to eat as well as possible. Also to ensure you are eating well yourself – we can share some ideas.
• Looking after your physical health – moving and handling people who are unwell, An opportunity to ensure you are looking after yourself physically and learn techniques on moving your loved one without harming yourself.
• Managing your emotions and anxieties, A session looking at relaxation for yourself, and ensuring you make some time to care for your own emotional wellbeing whilst looking after your loved one.
• What to expect as your loved one becomes less well, With our experienced nursing staff, explore what to expect as the person you care for becomes less well. What are the signs you are looking out for, how to help them as they reach the last stages of life.
• Looking ahead, making plans, An opportunity to look at future wishes and how to ensure you have the conversations that will help to cover all the issues relating to end of life arrangements, how to record them and make sure that people who need to know are aware of the documentation.

Read about Chris, one carer who has joined our Wellbeing sessions alongside his partner Sue, and found them to be beneficial.

Complementary Therapies are treatments used alongside regular medical care, and especially helpful in palliative and end of life care. These therapies include massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, and reiki. They are not meant to replace medical treatment, but can help people feel better in other ways, by reducing stress, encouraging relaxation, easing pain, and support emotional wellbeing. Before starting any Complementary Therapy, a Complementary Therapist will talk to the patient about their needs and explain what the therapy involves. Consent is always obtained, and therapies are tailored to each person’s wishes and comfort. The main aim is to support the person’s quality of life and provide comfort, alongside their usual medical care.

Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses natural oils from plants, such as flowers, leaves, and roots. These oils are either inhaled or applied to the skin. They are designed to help you relax, improve your mood, and support emotional comfort.

Facial Acupressure

This is similar to acupuncture but without needles. Gentle pressure is applied to points on the face to help relieve discomfort, nausea, or anxiety.

Indian Head Massage

This treatment focuses on the upper back, shoulders, neck, scalp, and face. It can help relieve tension, clear a heavy feeling in the head, and promote calmness.

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

This is a very light, gentle massage that helps move fluid around the body. It can reduce swelling and puffiness, especially in the arms, face, or neck.

Massage

Massage uses gentle, flowing strokes to warm up your muscles and help you relax. It can ease tension and provide comfort through calm, supportive touch. We use effleurage, a massage technique involving long, gliding strokes at the start and end of sessions. This helps us identify areas of tension in your body.

M Technique

The M Technique is a gentle, structured method of touch that uses a series of slow, repetitive movements performed in a set sequence. Designed for individuals who may be fragile, anxious, experiencing pain, or unable to tolerate traditional massage, it can promote deep relaxation and a sense of wellbeing.

Reflexology

Reflexology is a specialised foot (or sometimes hand) massage. It is based on the idea that different areas of the feet connect to other parts of the body. Gentle pressure is applied to these areas to help you feel more balanced and relaxed.

Reiki

Reiki is a calm and relaxing therapy where hands are placed lightly on or just above the body. There is no pressure or movement. It can help you feel peaceful and deeply relaxed.

This online group meets every two weeks. We use poems to inspire our own writing, which we then share with the group. You might choose to write about memories, feelings or to simply enjoy putting words on the page.

Our Support Group provides an opportunity for patients to connect with others who may be facing similar experiences and challenges. Meeting with people who understand what you are going through can help reduce feelings of isolation and provide reassurance, encouragement, and a sense of community.

These small groups offer a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment where participants can talk openly about the issues that matter most to them. Discussions are shaped by the interests and needs of the group and may cover a wide range of topics, including coping with symptoms, emotional wellbeing, relationships, practical concerns, and maintaining quality of life.

There is no pressure to speak if you do not wish to. Some people find comfort in sharing their experiences, while others prefer simply to listen and learn from others. Whatever your preference, everyone is treated with respect and understanding. The aim of these groups is to provide mutual support, encourage meaningful connections, and help participants feel empowered and less alone

Guided Relaxation is a gentle and accessible wellbeing activity that uses soothing music, calming imagery, and relaxation techniques to help quiet the mind and relax the body. When calming sounds and guided relaxation techniques encourage the brain to slow down, the body’s natural relaxation response can be activated, helping to reduce feelings of tension and stress.

This practice offers a range of benefits, including reducing stress and anxiety, promoting positive thinking, improving emotional wellbeing, and encouraging a greater sense of calm and balance. It can also provide an opportunity to take time out from the challenges of daily life and focus on personal wellbeing. Guided Relaxation is suitable for people of all ages and abilities and is particularly welcoming for beginners, with no previous experience required.

Sessions are designed to be comfortable, supportive, and easy to follow. Regular relaxation practice can be an effective way to help manage a variety of symptoms, including pain, fatigue, nausea, breathlessness, and sleep difficulties. Many people find that it helps them feel more rested, improves their ability to cope with symptoms, and enhances their overall quality of life.

Living Well 
Week 1 - Welcome & Support at Princess Alice Hospice 
Adapting to change when living with a life limiting illness.  How the Hospice can provide support, guidance, and assistance .

Week 2 - Staying Active 
The benefits of physical exercise, despite limitations. Includes a short armchair exercise session.

Focused Sessions  
Week 3 - Pain Management 
An overview of medications and other strategies to manage pain effectively .

Week 4 - Exploring the Impact of Illness  
Looking at strategies to manage negative emotions, ‘’cutting out the noise’’ to cope with anxiety, and an opportunity to explore what works for you.  (You will have the opportunity to discuss any other symptoms with the nurses )

Planning Ahead 
Week 5 - Benefits & Care Options 
General information on benefits you may be entitled to, and how to access social or nursing care, at home or elsewhere .

Week 6 - Planning Ahead 
Introducing ‘Advanced Care Planning’ documentation, which may help with difficult decisions & discussions about your future .

Week 7 – A  Chance to Reflect  
An opportunity to reflect on how illness might affect your outlook on life and your connections with the world around you .

Music has a unique ability to bring back memories, evoke emotions, and connect us with important moments in our lives. Our Music Group offers a friendly and supportive space to share meaningful songs and the stories behind them. Using a different theme each week, participants explore music that has personal significance, helping to create a playlist of special songs that reflect your life experiences. Sessions take place in a small group via Zoom, encouraging connection, reminiscence, and enjoyment through the shared experience of music.

Sessions with a member of the clinical team, giving you the opportunity to discuss any worries or ask any questions, which are more personal.

This is a chair-based yoga group, that will include movement, yogic breathing and meditation using a variety of techniques to help the mind to settle. This session with gentle poses will help you to reduce your anxiety. Yoga can be practiced at any age and can be performed almost anywhere. The aim is to relieve you from symptoms, pain, physical difficulties, mental stress of illness, and improved quality of life.