Caring for Family and Friends

These groups are run in a friendly and informal way by one of the Hospiscare nurses in conjunction with other care professionals, these include physiotherapists, complementary therapists and occupational therapists. They are not only for the patient, but offer advice and guidance for carers too, particularly around managing symptoms and managing uncertainty.

The service aims to:

• Enhance the quality of life for carers to ensure they feel valued and supported at all times.
• Improve the longer term support to carers and relatives after the death of the patient.

How can you access the service?

Patients / carers will be invited to the sessions by the nurses responsible for your care directly when they consider they will benefit from them.

Supporting people close to a patient is very important to us, and our trained listening support team are here to help family and carers when someone dies. We offer confidential 1:1 telephone listening service with our trained volunteers – speaking to someone who is not connected to family or friends allows for a different kind of conversation that can help the grieving process. Our volunteers have been doing this work for many years and really do make a difference.

I was so grateful to have ******** calling me regularly, it gave me a chance to be me, without the brave face that I was putting on for everyone else.

How can you access the service?

Carers will be asked by the Hospiscare nurses if they would like to be referred to the service. You can change your mind at any time, the door is always open. If you would like to self-refer for listening support and your loved one was a patient of Hospiscare, please call the Supportive Care Team on 01392 688006.

We recognise that when a person is grieving they have to take one step at a time, that is why our listening support group has a monthly drop-in tea. There is no pressure to attend, just pop along when you feel it is right for you. It will give you the opportunity to meet others who are going through a similar experience of sadness and readjustment in an informal way over a cup of tea or coffee.

You will find Margaret and Julie ready to welcome you on the third Wednesday of every month from 10:30am – 12:30pm. Locations alternate between Budleigh and Exmouth. If you would like to attend, contact our office on 01395 445876 and they will ask Margaret to get in touch for a chat.