We recently spoke to a group of young adults that regularly visit Jacksplace about the independence, choices and break from routine they have at the hospice, and how important this is to them. They wanted to share their thoughts for anyone who is considering coming to Jacksplace.
As a young woman with a chronic disability, it’s difficult to watch friends and family having independent lives. Coming to Jacksplace gives me that independence, even though I am fully dependent on care. Being away from family and my day-to-day care allows me the much-needed space from my daily routine.
We don’t just come to Jacksplace to be cared for. We come here to see our friends, socialise, have fun, take a break from routine, relax and have a breather. We trust the staff to care for us, but we’re trusted too, to make our own choices and decisions.
Jacksplace gives us choices and is completely flexible. We can get up when we want. We can sleep when we want. We can pick what we do, what we eat and where we go. We can have a drink or a takeaway together. Partners can stay.
“It’s good to have a break from routine. Everything in my life has to be planned to the tiniest detail, and it’s good to come to Jacksplace and be able to do what I want, at my own pace.”
Play and Activities Team Leader, Claire Potterton, also shared with us how important independence, decision-making and a break from routine is at Jacksplace.
We give young adults the opportunity to have new experiences and make independent decisions that might not be possible at home. Through activities, we enable choices to be made, giving them a chance to direct their life while their care needs are being met.
So much in the lives of the young adults we care for must be directed or within a routine, but at Jacksplace, they can be supported to take charge and make choices.
This kind of independence is just one of the ways we support young adults at Jacksplace. Your generous donations enable us to continue providing our services across our hospices.