By Leicester Mercury | Posted 7 October, 2013
For Lily Rodd, weekly visits to LOROS are something she always looks forward to.
The 85-year-old great-grandmother, who lives in Leicester's West End, has been visiting the hospice as a day patient for several months.
While most people who have heard of LOROS will know it provides palliative care for terminally-ill patients, its other services – such as complementary therapies, counselling and day care – are less well known.
Lily, who suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease –a lung disease which leaves her extremely short of breath – was referred by doctors earlier this year.
She now visits one day a week, getting picked up and taken home by LOROS volunteers.
During her time with the charity, she takes part in craft activities, has lunch and gets to catch up with fellow patients, staff and volunteers – who have now become firm friends. "I never realised before that the hospice is for people with all sorts of health problems, not just cancer," she said.
"But coming as a day patient is brilliant. They fetch me and provide all the transport. I do crafts when I'm there – making jewellery or painting.
"We have our dinner there as well. We have some nice dinners and we always have a cup of tea and a cake before we go home, too. They do all sorts and I enjoy going very much."
Lily had some experience of LOROS before she was referred herself, as her daughter, Glynis Clarke, died at the hospice in January last year, after suffering from brain tumours.
"I'd always supported LOROS but I didn't know exactly what it was before," Lily said. "I would visit her when she was there and they were very good.
"I'd never lost anyone in that way before, to cancer. It's like a lot of things – until it's happening to you, you don't think about it."
Lily became depressed after losing her daughter, which was another reason LOROS was recommended.
"I've got friends here now and they're a good bunch of people," she said. "You get to know everyone and all the staff and nurses are excellent. They can't do enough for you, nothing is too much trouble for anyone.
"You make friends with people there and they're a good crowd."
Lily says it is good to get out of the house and spend time with fellow patients.
"Don't misunderstand me, company-wise I'm okay as I've got good family," she said. "But I can't walk very far so it is good to be able to get out of the house and go somewhere else.
"At the minute, we're making scarecrows for harvest festival. I've made lots of jewellery, too – necklaces, earrings and bracelets for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren."
Lily said she wanted to talk about her experiences of LOROS to let others know what a fantastic place it is.
"It's definitely helped me," she said. "I would say to people: 'Never be afraid to go to LOROS. You get looked after. All the doctors, nurses, staff and volunteers are fantastic.
"They are all very caring, that's the best way to explain it, and they treat you right. They care about you, they talk to you and spend time with you. The atmosphere is nice and it's always clean and tidy and looks nice.
"It's a fantastic place."
