Living Well centres in Herts set to offer support for people with life-limiting illnesses
The two centres have been created by- and are attached to- Rennie Grove Peace Hospices
Hertfordshire charity Rennie Grove Peace Hospice Care has officially launched two new Living Well centres, aimed at helping people with progressive life-limiting illnesses maintain their independence and quality of life for as long as possible.
Located at Peace Hospice in Watford and Grove House in St Albans, the centres offer a wide range of free services that go beyond traditional clinical care, including emotional support, complementary therapies, and practical workshops.
The initiative is designed to support not only patients, but also their families and carers.
Rebecca Varvel, Living Well Manager at Rennie Grove Peace, said: "Our focus isn’t only on end of life care — it’s just as much about life.
"We’re here to give people the confidence to live well, stay active, and get the best out of their day, while also ensuring they feel comfortable, safe, and supported when they need it most."
The centres operate weekdays from 9am to 5pm and provide a flexible timetable of group sessions and one-to-one clinics.
Services include exercise and yoga classes, fatigue and breathlessness management, and an eight-week Living Well programme designed to build resilience.
Complementary therapies such as massage and reflexology are also available.
Ms Varvel added: "We’ve always offered outpatient services, but we know from research that 81% of people in our population have a misconception of what palliative and hospice care actually is.
"The Living Well centres are about early intervention — helping people from the point of diagnosis, not just at the end of life."
One patient, Penny, a teacher and mother of two young children, has benefited greatly from the services. "It’s boosted her confidence," Ms Varvel said. "She’s built trust with the team and realised that she can still do many of the things she thought she couldn’t."
Another attendee, Heather, who participated in a chair yoga class, said: "The yoga teacher played a big part in rebuilding my confidence. The sessions helped me feel stronger, less fearful, and more in control of my life again."
While some services predated the official launch, the new centres are the result of years of planning and collaboration.
The Living Well centres are open to individuals with conditions such as Parkinson’s, progressive respiratory diseases, incurable cancers, neurological conditions, and heart failure. Carers and family members can also participate in selected sessions.
A full calendar of sessions and further information is available at renniegrovepeace.org/livingwell.