The original inspiration for the hospice came in 1987 when the founder of Skanda Vale Monastery, Guru Sri Subramanium, had a serious heart attack. During his stay at West Wales General Hospital, he witnessed many terminally ill patients suffering and dying alone, often in a state of fear and confusion. Although hospital staff offered a high standard of clinical expertise, lack of time and resources meant they were unable to provide the one-to-one human care that patients needed during such a traumatic life stage. Guru resolved to extend the work of the monastery to meet this urgent need. Fund raising began in earnest and in 1993 the Vale Hospice Continuing Care Home Service was launched. During the 10 years of its operation, over 200 families in the Carmarthen and Ceredigion district benefited from the kind of service that the public sector wasn’t able to provide. Our Home Care Team volunteered their time, warmth, friendship and practical personal care for the last few weeks of a patient’s life. The service offered 24-hour companionship and a hand to hold, allowing the patient to pass away with dignity in a safe, familiar and loving environment. The Home Care Service proved to be of huge benefit to family carers as well, relieving a great deal of the pressure and exhaustion precipitated by these traumatic events. In late 2002, years of fundraising efforts culminated in the purchase of a dilapidated nursing home at Saron, Llandysul. 18 months of extensive design and renovation ensued, and in April 2004 we opened the doors of Skanda Vale Hospice to our first Day Patients.