The Therapeutic Impact Of Our Hospice Arts Program

While they navigate palliative care, you’re providing the clients of our Diane Morrison hospice with a space to find creativity and companionship at our expressive arts therapy program. Jessica, who is staying in our hospice and regularly attends the program shares:

“We’re all going through difficult times, but we lift each other up.” 

The small chapel nestled inside our shelter is a versatile space.

It hosts our daily chapel services, where shelter clients may observe a quiet moment in spiritual comfort, it provides a setting for group therapy sessions, where those dealing with addiction and mental health challenges find support, and, just recently, our chapel has become a space where our hopsice clients participate in a weekly arts program.

If you were to sit in on a session, you might find hospice clients like Holly, John, and Jessica gathering there. Sitting in his electric wheelchair, John quietly works on a sketch of an eagle. As his hand carefully moves across his canvas, he shares:

“This art group is therapeutic and provides peace of mind. I started painting as a form of rehabilitation for my hands.”

Jessica, who came to our hospice for care while fighting Huntington’s disease, crafts a bracelet with beads that spell out ‘Sharon’. She expresses how hospice clients and staff grow close, like a family. The bracelet she’s made illustrates her point: she will gift it to Sharon, her friend and hospice floormate, who is too unwell to participate.

As she works on her own piece, Holly thinks about all the support you’ve provided above and beyond this art program:

“I won’t forget my first meal here: a big piece of meatloaf with mashed potatoes and vegetables! I couldn’t have asked for a better lunch.”

Beyond nourishing meals and this therapeutic art program, Holly speaks on behalf of all our hospice clients when commenting on the care you’re helping to provide:

“I just feel so grateful. The care we’re given is outstanding. I don’t think there’s a place in Ottawa that looks after people like they do here.”