Jersey art workshops explore end-of-life care options

Residents at Les Amis have been asked to express their end-of-life wishes using art

Two charities have set up new workshops to help people with learning difficulties talk about end-of-life care.

Drawing and craft-making exercises have been created to start the discussion.

Jersey Hospice Care and learning disability charity Les Amis have run three workshops so far and plan to run more.

Nurse champion Gail Edwards said they had "empowered" the residents and enabled them to record their wishes.

The residents have been asked to express their wishes using arts and crafts and the results will then be uploaded to their care plan and passed on to family members.

Ms Edwards added: "It's been mind-boggling to see that even people who have difficulties with communication, especially the non-verbal residents here, can do this creative work and show what their care preferences are."

Marguerite said she loved attending one of the workshops

Alison Brolly, registered manager at Les Amis, said residents had found it "amazing".

She said: "By using arts and crafts, they've been able to give their own choices, wishes, and voices on what they want for their end-of-life care."

Resident Marguerite said: "I like my music and I made a drawing of how I would like Abba to be played to me while I'm in hospital.

"I've loved this and I would like to do some more of it."

Val, another resident, said: "I've drawn how I would like to play my video games and I've also drawn how I want to be with my family.

"I'm happy that people know what I want to happen when I die. I've got a toy dog and I've shown that I want to be buried with him because of these workshops."