Hospice Care Week 2025 - Hospice Experience

This year’s theme of Hospice Care Week is “Hospice care is more than you think” – and sometimes, the difference it makes can only truly be understood through the stories of those who have experienced it first-hand

Robert Whiteman shares his experience of the care his wife, Jo, received:

"My wife, Jo, passed away ten years ago after losing her fight against cancer. When the doctors gently told us that they had done all they could and that her care was now in the hands of the Hospice, it felt as though that grim reality had finally come home. But then we met the Hospice team. From the very beginning, with palliative care and support at home, it was as if half the burden we had been carrying had been lifted. Their presence brought comfort, reassurance, and a sense that we were no longer facing this journey alone. The professionalism, kindness, and even the humour of the staff carried us both through some of our most difficult days. Jo’s final three weeks as an in-patient were filled not only with the care she needed but also with warmth, hugs, shared laughter, and, of course, a few tears. Nothing was ever too much trouble for her carers, every small gesture made a world of difference. There is truly nothing I could ever do that would feel enough to repay the Hospice for the compassion and dignity they gave Jo, and the support they gave me."

Stories like Robert and Jo’s show just how much goes on at Hospice Isle of Man - from in-home support and in-patient care, to complementary therapies, counselling, and wellbeing programmes. Every role, every gesture, and every service contributes to comfort, dignity, and compassion at a time when it matters most.

During Hospice Care Week, we celebrate all the staff, volunteers, and supporters who make this possible.