At a Hospice, there are doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and others with experience in the field of palliative care.

The professional and highly specialized go hand in hand with respect for the individual’s special value and compassionate care, where the close and small things are also given great importance.

What is a Hospice?

The word hospice means hostel, and is an ancient tradition that dates back to the time of the Crusades, when hospices were set up to take care of the sick, the dying and the road users. The sick were admitted to a care ward, while the dying and the road users shared premises. The reason for this division was that the dying was also perceived as a traveler, a traveler on the way to the kingdom of God.

The modern hospice movement has its origins in 1950s London, where Dame Cicely Saunders created the first modern hospice, St. Christopher’s Hospice. It is from here that the Danish hospices have taken inspiration.

Hospice is for anyone with life-threatening and serious illness where death is imminent. Stays at Hospice are free under the Free Hospital Choice Act.

The hospice philosophy is based on the idea that the patient can get the necessary help to be able to live fully and completely to the last. So Hospice is far more about life than about death.

Hospice helps by applying all facets of the palliative care, nursing and care, but also by avoiding meaningless treatment with advanced technology that can maintain life functions – but not maintain life without meaning.

The purpose is to alleviate and to give the sick and the relatives the opportunity to share the difficult thoughts associated with the illness and the impending death.

At a Hospice, there are doctors, nurses and others with experience in the palliative care. The professional and highly specialized go hand in hand with respect for the individual’s special value and compassionate care, where the close and small things are also given great importance.

The staff at Sct. Maria Hospice:

Below, by clicking on the individual professional, you can find out more about which task the individual or professional group performs at Sct. Maria Hospice.

What the individual or professional group can offer patients and relatives.

But also get a part in everyday life here at Sct. Maria Hospice in the form of short stories.

Click on the subject group:

• Doctors
• Nurses
• Physiotherapists
• Music therapist
• Priest
• Financial Secretary
• Medical Secretary
• Service Assistant
• Maid
• Janitor
• Kitchen staff
• Volunteer coordinator
• Psychologist
• Hospice management

The volunteers at Sct. Maria Hospice:

It is a natural part of the hospice idea that here are volunteers as part of everyday life.

The volunteers act as fellow human beings, creating an atmosphere of life and profit.

Their work is unpaid.
 
Hosts at the meals
The volunteers are experienced as hosting a dinner or evening meal for the up-and-coming patients and relatives in our shared kitchen.
The hosts are present with their presence throughout the meal.
The hosts show up well in advance of the meal. They cover a beautiful table with napkins and candles and provide a homely and cozy atmosphere for patients, relatives and staff at meals.
The hosts prepare the food and clean up after the meal.
 
Outdoor teams – the “garden people”
Especially in the spring and summer, we have an active outdoor team that keeps the areas outside the hospice in good condition. Mowing, mowing grass, weeding, watering, etc.
 
Flower team – “the flower girls”
Some volunteers provide flower decorations, fresh flowers in the vases and water the plants in the common areas.
 
Event guards
There are various events and meetings at Sct. Maria Hospice, where volunteers are needed. Eg. choir singing, but also for Christmas, relatives’ evenings and much more.

From time to time, volunteers show up in the dining room, where they provide a little homely coziness for patients and relatives. Here can be many different activities, e.g. song and music, readings, cookie baking, paper clips, etc.
Or you are just there, making yourself available with your presence for the patients and relatives who need a cup of coffee and a chat.
 
Volunteers at music worship services
Every other Monday there is a shorter music worship service at Sct. Maria Hospice. Here, some volunteers help the pastor set up tables and chairs and join as a congregation at the service. A few volunteers are lead singers.
 
Wave cones
Some patients may need a fellow human being who is simply present, e.g. in the evening or at night. Or you can relieve the relatives for a few hours by sitting with the patient.

Of course, it is the staff who take care of the patient. 
 
Various practical tasks
The volunteers also set up a lot of practical tasks that the employees cannot just achieve, e.g. to sew the flag, buy new candlesticks, braid Christmas hearts, be a companion to activities etc.                                 

Visiting friend
Some patients have only a few relatives and therefore want a visiting friend – or the visiting friend relieves the relatives.

Some go for a walk with the patient, go on errands, play cards, read aloud, write, chat or whatever the patient needs.

Many volunteers have guards, are part of an activity committee and a visiting friend.