Breathe Better: Supporting People to Live Well with Breathlessness

Living with breathlessness can have a profound impact on a person’s confidence, independence and quality of life. At Galway Hospice, the Breathe Better Programme supports people with life-limiting illness to manage breathlessness more effectively, helping them to remain active, confident and as independent as possible.

The programme is coordinated by María Álvarez, Senior Physiotherapist at Galway Hospice, and is grounded in the belief that palliative care is not only about symptom management, but about supporting people to live well.

“Palliative care is about living — about being the best you can be while you’re alive,” explains María.

A holistic, evidence-based approach

Breathe Better is a structured five-week programme, combining breathing techniques, gentle exercise, relaxation strategies, and education and self-management tools.

Participants attend sessions at the hospice and are also supported to continue exercises at home. The approach is evidence-based, with research showing that non-pharmacological interventions, such as breathing and exercise, can significantly improve breathlessness and confidence.

“The evidence shows that non-pharmacological interventions help people most — combining breathing techniques, relaxation and exercise so people can be the best they can be in their current circumstances,” says María.

Building confidence and independence

Many people referred to the programme have experienced prolonged hospital admissions, reduced mobility and muscle weakness due to illness and inactivity. This can lead to fear around movement and exercise.

“When people come in, sometimes they’re already anticipating that they’ll become very breathless, so they avoid exercise. One of the biggest changes we see is an improvement in confidence,” María explains.

For participants, the programme offers more than physical benefits. It provides understanding, reassurance and renewed motivation.

“I’ve been through exercise programmes before, but I didn’t really take them seriously. Now I understand my breathlessness better — not just how to reduce it, but why it happens,” shared Sean Pomphrett, one of the participants.

Patrick Muldoon, another participant, reflected on the impact on daily life at home:

“I’m managing much better since starting the course. I remember what’s been said during the sessions and try to apply it at home. My wife helps keep me going with the exercises.”

Changing perceptions of palliative care

For some participants, Breathe Better has also changed how they view hospice care.

“I always thought hospice was just about end of life. I didn’t realise there were exercise programmes, breathing programmes — all of this is part of palliative care,” Winnie Ferguson, one participant, said.

This understanding reflects a core value of Galway Hospice: supporting quality of life, comfort and independence, alongside compassionate clinical care.

As Sean simply put it:

“Dying will happen to everybody — there’s nothing we can do about that. In the meantime, between now and then, let’s live.”

Through programmes like Breathe Better, Galway Hospice continues to support people and families to live as well as possible, for as long as possible — with dignity, care and compassion.