“It’s not a place you come to die; it’s a place where you begin to recover” – Elizabeth Farren
Day and night, hospices across the UK are providing specialist, around-the-clock care to those with life-limiting conditions. This care is about far more than simply managing symptoms; it is about supporting people to live as well and as independently as possible, even during the most challenging times of their lives.
At Cumbrian-based hospices, Eden Valley Hospice and Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, specialist Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy teams play a vital role in helping patients to manage pain, regain confidence and maintain independence. Working closely with patients, families and wider healthcare teams, they focus on what matters most to each individual.
Kim Percival and Helen Turner, Occupational Therapists at Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, and Richard Horsfield, a Physiotherapist working at both Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, help patients with everyday activities many people take for granted – from sitting comfortably out of bed to transferring safely or moving with confidence. Their work is rooted in a flexible, person‑centred approach that adapts to each patient’s needs and priorities.
Kim explained:
“Absolutely everything we do is a risk assessment, but you could do nothing without risk, and doing nothing isn’t living. Anything that benefits the patient, that’s what we do.”
This approach made a life‑changing difference for Elizabeth Farren, from Cumbria, who was admitted to Eden Valley Hospice following severe, uncontrolled pain caused by advanced cancer. Prior to her admission, Elizabeth spent several days in hospital, an experience she still struggles to talk about:
“It was really terrible there… Those three days in the infirmary were like 300 years. I was screaming in pain. I couldn’t move. I’ve never felt pain like that in my life.”
A palliative care doctor who had seen Elizabeth days earlier realised the urgency of her situation and arranged a bed at Eden Valley Hospice. Last year alone, Eden Valley Hospice provided more than 2,200 nights of care and Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland provided over 12,000 hours of care day and night to patients who would otherwise have remained in hospital.
Kim, Helen and Richard collaborated to play a vital role in supporting Elizabeth, who arrived with severe, uncontrolled pain that made even the smallest movement unbearable. Walking wasn’t possible, and day-to-day activities felt overwhelming.
Physiotherapist Richard remembers how limited Elizabeth’s mobility was at first:
“She couldn’t move without being in agony. Even minimal movement would stir the pain up.”
As her pain was gradually brought under control with carefully adjusted medication, the Physio and Occupational Therapy teams worked together to gently rebuild Elizabeth’s strength, confidence and independence.
Elizabeth praised the hospice saying:
“When I got in here… What a difference it has made to my thinking, to my physical being, to everything.”
Alongside physical rehabilitation, the team also supported Elizabeth emotionally, helping her to manage expectations and avoid pushing herself too hard. Helen highlighted the importance of person-centred care:
“It’s the emotional support at each step as well, managing expectations so you’re not setting yourself back.”
Elizabeth’s goal was always to return home. Not to her old life, but to a new version of it that keeps her safe and supported. Elizabeth explained:
“I thought I’d be walking up the stairs again, but that’s not going to happen. The Physio and Occupational Therapist explained I’ll need to live downstairs. And that’s okay – it’s part of recovery.”
Kim and Helen worked closely with Elizabeth to plan for her return home through their work with Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, carefully assessing her environment and identifying equipment that would support her safety, comfort and independence. Kim said:
“From first seeing her to what we saw when we were getting her home was remarkable.”
The team had thoughtful conversations about what Elizabeth wanted and what she didn’t, ensuring that every decision respected her wishes while still keeping her safe. Small achievements became powerful confidence-builders, Kim explained:
“You suddenly see people realise, ‘Oh, I can do that’ and that confidence makes all the difference.”
By the time Elizabeth was ready to leave the hospice, she had made significant progress, physically and emotionally. The team didn’t simply support her discharge; they continued to work with Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, and community services to ensure her care continued seamlessly at home.
Richard reflected “It’s a privilege to be able to work with someone like that, to see that progress.”
If Elizabeth could speak to anyone who feels afraid of hospice care, her answer is simple:
“Don’t be afraid. It’s not a place you come to die; it’s a place where you begin to recover.”
Elizabeth is passionate about the future of hospice care and is worried about the uncertainty of its future, not just in Cumbria but for the whole country:
“It’s a very scary thought, hospices closing. Even 10 beds could be taken away. Fundraising is so important.”
Elizabeth’s story highlights not only the difference hospice care makes to individuals and families, but also the vital role hospices play within the wider health system. By working in partnership with NHS and community services, local hospices help relieve pressure on hospitals and support better experiences for patients at some of the most difficult times in their lives.
However, like many hospices across the country, Eden Valley Hospice and Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland rely heavily on charitable funding to continue providing this essential care, with only a small portion of government funding.
On 15th April, over 40 hospices from across the UK will be attending parliament to join the Hospice UK backed ‘Fair Funding’ campaign. All of the hospices attending have been forced to cut services due to the increase in the cost of living.
Elizabeth’s experience shows why fair and sustainable funding for hospice care is crucial – to ensure people across Cumbria can continue to receive the compassionate, specialist care they need, when and where they need it most.
