Hospice Care Week (6–12 October 2025) is a time to celebrate and champion hospice care across the UK, and at Dove House Hospice, the team are highlighting the unseen yet deeply impactful roles that make hospice care so special.
This year’s theme, “Hospice care is more than you think,” couldn’t be more fitting. For many, hospice care conjures images of inpatient beds and end of life support, but it’s also about helping people live well, manage their symptoms, and find peace during incredibly difficult times. One of the people making this possible at Dove House is Karen, a Complementary Therapist at the hospice, whose story shows the heart behind hospice care.
Kari first joined Dove House in 2023 and works across the Inpatient Unit and running both the Outpatient Complementary Therapy Clinic and the Carers and Bereaved Wellbeing Clinic offering therapies such as Reiki, Reflexology, and Massage, carefully adapted to each individual’s needs.
“Working here allows me to be the clinician I’ve always wanted to be. I get to spend time with each person, really listen to them, and tailor therapies to their needs. It’s not just about easing physical symptoms, it’s about offering comfort, restoring calm, and giving people moments of peace when they need it most.”
“I had one lady come to the Carers and Bereaved Clinic, completely overwhelmed by grief, she cried for over an hour, but was open to trying Reiki. After her session, she said she felt calm for the first time in months. When she was later discharged, she told me the hospice had saved her life. That moment will stay with me forever.”
Dove House’s commitment to providing holistic care is what sets it apart and stories like Karen’s reveal the depth and breadth of hospice work. From emotional wellbeing to symptom relief, community groups, to creative therapies, it’s about improving quality of life at every stage of someone’s journey.
At Dove House, this care is made possible thanks to the generosity of the local community, through donations, fundraising, and shopping in the hospice’s charity shops.
With services under pressure, this week is also a call to action to ensure more people have access to the full range of hospice support available, including the kind of care Karen provides every day.
Kari added: “I want people to know that hospice care isn’t just about the end, it’s about living well. It’s about finding peace, dignity, and support, whenever you need it. I hope I can continue to play a part in that and inspire others to see hospice care for what it truly is: compassionate, person-centred, and more than you think.”
To find out more about Dove House Hospice, how to support the work they do, or to read more stories from the team, visit: www.dovehouse.org.uk/hospicecareweek