Our Story
The Charity was set up in 1997 with the bequest of a house on Nun Street, St Davids. After a significant fundraising effort, the house was adapted in line with recommendations for a Hospice. Shalom House opened today patients on 23 November 2007. From the outset, specialist palliative support has been offered to patients and their relatives. Over the years, this has included inpatient care, respite care and daycare. Shalom House is a full member of Hospice UK and Hospice Cymru. Financial constraints have led to a refocusing of activity on day-care and specialist interest days to support as many patients as possible in a flexible and beneficial way.
Model of Care
Shalom House has developed to offer care to three distinct groups of patients:
For those who have been diagnosed with a potentially life-threatening illness, who may have received radical surgery, followed by chemotherapy/radiotherapy.
Benefit from visiting a place where they can:
- Share their fears
- Manage their symptoms
- Be given the confidence to resume their lives, often returning to work after their treatment
These patients often fall into a younger age group.
For those who have been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness with a relatively long prognosis.
Benefit from visiting a place where they can:
- Share their anxieties
- Express their wishes for the future
- Be given the confidence to move forward and to live their lives as fully as possible
Benefit carers who may plan their own respite for the day, confident that their loved ones are in a safe and beneficial place.
For those who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness who are being cared for at home.
Both patients and carers benefit from respite, which may help, for example to:
- Offer them time to share their cares and anxieties
- Help with pain control and symptom management
- Stimulate a patient’s appetite
- Improve their general wellbeing
Many of these patients will have expressed a wish to die at home and, working together with our partners, we do whatever we can to support them and their families to achieve their wish.
Feedback from the overwhelming majority of our patients indicates that one of the greatest benefits of our service is the sharing of experience with others similarly affected, together with the practical and emotional support they receive from Shalom House staff to combat the social isolation which many feel.
