During Carers Week, 8th – 14th June, St Richard’s Hospice is highlighting the importance of supporting those who care for patients with life-threatening illnesses.
St Richard’s Hospice understands that carers are pivotal to the success of the care provided for their loved one, and recognises that carers also need to be cared for and supported. The hospice offers a range of services to help each family deal with the circumstances in which they find themselves.
Carers Week is a national campaign to raise awareness of caring; to highlight the challenges faced by carers and to recognise the contribution they make to their families and communities.
As part of a week of celebrating carers, St Richard’s Hospice’s carers group will be holding a summer tea party on Wednesday, 10th June. Guests will be able to take some time away from their caring responsibilities and enjoy an afternoon tea in a marquee in the serene hospice gardens.
The hospice’s specialist teams can help carers and their families with practical issues such as advice on benefits, supporting children and young people and counselling to help people through bereavement.
Carers and other family members are offered the opportunity to talk about their concerns and discuss coping strategies on a one-to-one basis. The hospice runs a carers support group so that people can share their feelings and experiences with others in a similar situation.
Yvonne Green, who cares for her husband Chris, a St Richard’s Hospice patient said, “When my husband was first diagnosed with his brain tumour it was something that came completely out of the blue. He was a fit man, a well man, never been ill and suddenly he had this big seizure and it was three months later we had this diagnosis of brain tumour and told it was terminal.
“I realised as time when on we would need support and I thought I need to turn to someone because it’s really quite scary this journey you are on. I joined the St Richard’s carers group. I was a bit scared meeting new people and coming into a new group setting feeling anxious. But I’ve made some marvellous new friends and it’s like a lifeline. Somewhere I come and I feel safe to talk about what I’m experiencing at home in confidence and sharing knowledge and experiences with other people going through the same things you are.”
If you would like further information or would like to be invited to the Group please contact the Family Support Team on 01905 763963.
St Richard’s Hospice provides free specialist palliative care for patients living with life-threatening illnesses and supports their families. Each year the hospice team supports over 2,600 patients and family members in Worcestershire with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect.
Patients are cared for in Day Hospice, the 17-bed In-patient Unit or in their own homes by a specialist professional team as well as many trained volunteers.
In the In-patient Unit, specialist staff are on hand 24 hours a day to manage patients’ symptoms and where, if appropriate, patients may spend the last few days of life in comfort and dignity. St Richard’s is an independent charity and is grateful for all donations to help it to continue its work.