“I COULDN’T wish for a better place to be, apart from home.”

These are the words Steve Hoggarth said while he was staying at St Helena Hospice.

He had motor neurone disease and was 47-years-old.

He died in May 2017.

Steve’s death was not in vain, as his memory of his time at St Helena Hospice is encouraging others to support the vital service.

Before he died, he said: “I couldn’t wish for a better place to be, maybe apart from home.

“I have good banter with the nurses. The food is good and it’s nice and quiet when you want it to be, it can be quite noisy when you want it to, having a laugh and a joke with the care team, who are all wonderful.

“That’s probably what I like about it - it’s not home but it’s close to home.”

What makes a place ‘home?’ - often it’s the little things we take for granted.

As Steve said, it is laughter, companionship, comforting food.

In 2018/19 there were 345 admissions to the hospice. Sue O’Neill, matron, explains how staff and volunteers make people feel at home while they are at the hospice.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

She said: “We try really hard to make people feel welcomed and that means the little things matter.

“It means taking care of people in a holistic way and asking what matters to them.

“So, in the morning, what is it you like to eat and how would you like that served? Do you like your tea in a cup that doesn’t spill, or do you prefer a china cup and saucer? Because starting your day in that way makes a difference.”

Another vital aspect is family - at the hospice families are able to come and go as they please.

Children and pets are welcome, and particularly in warmer days, when families can go outside to enjoy the beautiful gardens, it’s a vision of home.

Former mayor of Colchester, Martin Hunt, spent some time at the hospice before he died in 2015.

His daughter Laura, 37, agrees it is the little things that make a difference during a difficult time.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

She said: “My dad had stomach and oesophageal cancer and so when you are caring for someone who can’t eat at all the majority of the time, it’s very difficult to get square meals yourself.

“So when I went to the hospice, especially when I was with dad in the evening, I would get a couple of meals a week.

“They would cook me something beautiful in the kitchen and it would be amazing, it would be real food.

“And it is things like that, when you are in this tornado, that makes you stop spinning. “

“To be able to sit down for ten minutes and have a lovingly prepared meal, made just for you by someone really kind – that’s everything.”

She added: “If I could sum up the hospice, I would say love and support.

“The atmosphere is one of love, understanding and kindness - and joy in small things. Not sad, not depressing, definitely not downbeat.”

Toby Freeman, CEO of the Robin Cancer Trust, feels the hospice helped him and his family spend quality time together with his brother Robin, who died from a germ cell tumour aged 24.

Clacton and Frinton Gazette:

Toby said: “The hospice allowed us to have a period of saying goodbye and putting good memories together. We had some amazing experiences. We went out and about.

“Rob and my eldest brother went out to see a final metal concert and they had the best time. We also had a really nice family day out at the zoo where Rob had a zookeeper experience.

“At the hospice we could watch our DVDs, play our video games, reminisce, swear, do whatever we needed to do, even have a cry if we needed to.

“I could still be Rob’s brother, we could still joke around.”

St Helena is joining with other hospices to support Hospice UK’s Open Up Hospice Care campaign, which highlights some of the ways hospice care is available for people with incurable conditions and their loved ones.

This financial year, St Helena has supported 3,770 people through Hospice in the Home, day therapies, bereavement services and at the hospice itself.