Caring at home - practical tips

Everyone wants to be at home for as long as possible - but family carers need knowledge regarding the best way to care for the body, especially in these times of stretched community resources. Caring for someone at home with a terminal illness can be rewarding, exhausting, frightening and joyful.

Confidence in the everyday tasks of care will help you to cope. 

Helping with Practical Tasks:

 

The Hospice in the Weald INFORMED guides  cover most of the above topics plus a few extra

 A brief video showing how to safely move someone in their bed

Recommended Resources

Hospice in the Weald, Kent

Published 30th December 2022

Marie Curie

Published 20th April 2020

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W. https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-bsbwtk-community-nursing-clinicians

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Referrals can be made via SystmOne or the email address above.

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The Respiratory team provide five services:

  • chronic case management of complex COPD patients,
  • Home Oxygen service assessment and re assessment of patients in the community on oxygen therapy or that may fit criteria for oxygen therapy
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  • Breathlessness and diagnostics ARTP accredited spirometry performing and interpritation for suport diagnosis of obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease
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W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/hospice-at-home

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W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/the-hospice-ward

For patients requiring specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.

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W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/patient-therapies

The patient therapies team help with a range of symptoms through groups and individual sessions to help managing pain and symptoms.

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W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/crisis-support

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W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/clinical-outpatients

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Key clinical procedures offered to outpatients:

  • Advance Care Planning clinics
  • Ascetic and Pleural drainage
  • Blood product transfusions
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist symptom management clinic
  • CVC line care
  • Intravenous fluids
  • IV Bisphosphonates infusions
  • IV Iron Infusions
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  • Venepuncture

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Close

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St Luke's Hospice In Patient Unit
Close

St Luke's Hospice provide specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.        

There are a total of 7 beds and 1 emergency bed in Basildon.

Hospice Rapid Access Service (HRAS) with 6 Beds in Thurrock.

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support

T. 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/physiotherapy-support

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy team can help when living with a life limiting illness.  Specialist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists will listen and assess to support independence and aid mobility to manage symptoms and positively impact quality of life and wellbeing.

Family and loved ones are also supported in their caring roles. Advice, guidance and techniques on how to safely move and handle someone when caring for them can be accessed through conversation with the Physiotherapy team.

The offer includes:

  • individual assessments to help provide appropriate equipment, e.g. mobility aids
  • personalised treatment plans including non-drug pain relief treatments and exercises to improve mobility, independence and balance
  • treatments to assist with shortness of breath, fatigue or insomnia
  • group exercise classes and confidence building

Rehabilitative care is also provided by our Occupational Therapy team. 

Together for Short Lives
Close

Together for Short Lives have a helpline and family support hub to provide help and advice for those caring for a child with a serious illness.

Urgent Community Response Team
Close

All calls are answered by a senior triage nurse in the Single Point of Access, who will assess the case and advise if the service is able to stabilise and manage the patient.

The rapid resonse team aim to visit the patient within two hours.

Young lives vs Cancer
Close

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Palliative care teams

Bliss
Close

Bliss offers a wide range of free services for the families of premature and sick babies including a video call support service.

Breatheasy groups
Close

The support group is a way to learn more about living with a lung condition and share your experiences and stories with others.

Care Co-ordinators
Close

Care Co-ordinators

T. 0300 300 1712

Care co-ordinators are llocated to specific surgerys in Basildon, Brentwood, Billaricay and Wickford. They support with GP MDTs and complex patients with multiple comorbidities.

Children's Community Nursing Service: North East London Foundation Trust
Close

Children's Community Nursing Service: North East London Foundation Trust

T. 0300 300 1521 option 1

W. https://www.nelft.nhs.uk/services-bsbwtk-community-nursing-clinicians

The Children’s Community Nursing Team consists of nurses who have specialist training and experience in the care of sick children. We provide a vital link with other professionals to provide holistic care including palliative care to children and their families. We aid in preventing hospital admission and supporting early discharge by teaching and supporting families to manage their child’s condition in their own home.

Home Loans
Close

The Home Loans team is an intemediary service between equipment provider (medequip) and prescribers. The team ensure forms are completed correctly and appropriate equipment is ordered. There are satelitle equipment stores in Thurrock and Billericay. 

Referrals can be made via SystmOne or the email address above.

Hospice UK
Close

Hospice UK can help find a hospice, provide infromation and support about end of life care and guidance to plan ahead.

Integrated Respiratory Team
Close

Integrated Respiratory Team

T. 0300 300 1712

The Respiratory team provide five services:

  • chronic case management of complex COPD patients,
  • Home Oxygen service assessment and re assessment of patients in the community on oxygen therapy or that may fit criteria for oxygen therapy
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation exercise and education for those with diagnosed respiratory disease bar asthma
  • Breathlessness and diagnostics ARTP accredited spirometry performing and interpritation for suport diagnosis of obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease
  • FeNo testing, respiratory virtual ward pathway for patient with a diagnosed respiratory conditon bar asthma using early supported discharge measures and admission avoidance for those that fit criteria and are clinically indicated
Little Havens Hospice
Close

Little Havens provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people requiring specialist in-patient care for symptom management, respite and end of life care.

Rainbow Trust
Close

Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity supports families who have a child aged 0 to18 years with a life-threatening or terminal illness.

St Francis Hospice at Home
Close

St Francis Hospice at Home

T. 01708 758603 / 01708 753319 Ext: 2342

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/hospice-at-home

The Hospice at Home team offers blocks of care to people in their last few weeks of life. The blocks are usually between two and four hours and in some circumstances the blocks can run sequentially to provide a dying person with almost 24 hour care. The Hospice at Home team offers care for 7 days a week. 

St Francis Hospice Inpatient Unit
Close

St Francis Hospice Inpatient Unit

T. 01708 723593 / 01708 753319 ext. 2317

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/the-hospice-ward

For patients requiring specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies
Close

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies

T. 01708 753319  ext. 2220

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/patient-therapies

The patient therapies team help with a range of symptoms through groups and individual sessions to help managing pain and symptoms.

The team consistes of:

  • Physiotheraphy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Complementary therapy
St Francis Hospice Specialist Community and Crisis Support
Close

St Francis Hospice Specialist Community and Crisis Support

T. 01708 758643 / 01708 758610 ext. 2266

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/crisis-support

The team are clinical specialists that are experts in pain and symptom control.

Urgent advice ia available 24 hours, 365 days a year.

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients
Close

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients

T. 01268 524973 / 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/clinical-outpatients

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients team offers convenient, accessible and specialist key clinical procedures and palliative care, in a relaxed environment with appointments to meet your wellbeing and lifestyle needs. 

Key clinical procedures offered to outpatients:

  • Advance Care Planning clinics
  • Ascetic and Pleural drainage
  • Blood product transfusions
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist symptom management clinic
  • CVC line care
  • Intravenous fluids
  • IV Bisphosphonates infusions
  • IV Iron Infusions
  • Long term condition clinic – supporting heart failure, renal and liver conditions
  • Venepuncture

The service opening hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm.

St Luke's Hospice Community Service
Close

St Luke's Hospice community service provides assessment, support advice and care for people wishing to be cared  and supported in their locality community setting. The team also provide support in care homes, the hospice's rapid access service and there is the provision of clinical nurse specialists.

St Luke's Hospice In Patient Unit
Close

St Luke's Hospice provide specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.        

There are a total of 7 beds and 1 emergency bed in Basildon.

Hospice Rapid Access Service (HRAS) with 6 Beds in Thurrock.

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support

T. 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/physiotherapy-support

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy team can help when living with a life limiting illness.  Specialist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists will listen and assess to support independence and aid mobility to manage symptoms and positively impact quality of life and wellbeing.

Family and loved ones are also supported in their caring roles. Advice, guidance and techniques on how to safely move and handle someone when caring for them can be accessed through conversation with the Physiotherapy team.

The offer includes:

  • individual assessments to help provide appropriate equipment, e.g. mobility aids
  • personalised treatment plans including non-drug pain relief treatments and exercises to improve mobility, independence and balance
  • treatments to assist with shortness of breath, fatigue or insomnia
  • group exercise classes and confidence building

Rehabilitative care is also provided by our Occupational Therapy team. 

St Luke's Hospice Pre & Post Bereavement Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Pre & Post Bereavement Support

T. 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/bereavement-support

The Dove Community Counselling Service team at St Luke's Hospice offer bereavement support to adults living with a life limiting illness, from diagnosis through to end of life or into survivorship. 

Bereavement support is also available to those who may have experienced a bereavement from suicide, sudden, traumatic or accidental deaths, or within the last 5 years due to a life limiting illness.

Together for Short Lives
Close

Together for Short Lives have a helpline and family support hub to provide help and advice for those caring for a child with a serious illness.

Urgent Community Response Team
Close

All calls are answered by a senior triage nurse in the Single Point of Access, who will assess the case and advise if the service is able to stabilise and manage the patient.

The rapid resonse team aim to visit the patient within two hours.

Young lives vs Cancer
Close

Young lives vs Cancer support young people under 25 with cancer, and their families, to get the help they need during their cancer treatment and beyond, including bereaved families living with emotional distress. 

Pharmacies

Breatheasy groups
Close

The support group is a way to learn more about living with a lung condition and share your experiences and stories with others.

Hospice UK
Close

Hospice UK can help find a hospice, provide infromation and support about end of life care and guidance to plan ahead.

Integrated Respiratory Team
Close

Integrated Respiratory Team

T. 0300 300 1712

The Respiratory team provide five services:

  • chronic case management of complex COPD patients,
  • Home Oxygen service assessment and re assessment of patients in the community on oxygen therapy or that may fit criteria for oxygen therapy
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation exercise and education for those with diagnosed respiratory disease bar asthma
  • Breathlessness and diagnostics ARTP accredited spirometry performing and interpritation for suport diagnosis of obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease
  • FeNo testing, respiratory virtual ward pathway for patient with a diagnosed respiratory conditon bar asthma using early supported discharge measures and admission avoidance for those that fit criteria and are clinically indicated
Little Havens Hospice
Close

Little Havens provides specialist care and support for babies, children and young people requiring specialist in-patient care for symptom management, respite and end of life care.

St Francis Hospice at Home
Close

St Francis Hospice at Home

T. 01708 758603 / 01708 753319 Ext: 2342

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/hospice-at-home

The Hospice at Home team offers blocks of care to people in their last few weeks of life. The blocks are usually between two and four hours and in some circumstances the blocks can run sequentially to provide a dying person with almost 24 hour care. The Hospice at Home team offers care for 7 days a week. 

St Francis Hospice Inpatient Unit
Close

St Francis Hospice Inpatient Unit

T. 01708 723593 / 01708 753319 ext. 2317

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/the-hospice-ward

For patients requiring specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies
Close

St Francis Hospice Patient Therapies

T. 01708 753319  ext. 2220

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/patient-therapies

The patient therapies team help with a range of symptoms through groups and individual sessions to help managing pain and symptoms.

The team consistes of:

  • Physiotheraphy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Complementary therapy
St Francis Hospice Specialist Community and Crisis Support
Close

St Francis Hospice Specialist Community and Crisis Support

T. 01708 758643 / 01708 758610 ext. 2266

W. https://www.sfh.org.uk/crisis-support

The team are clinical specialists that are experts in pain and symptom control.

Urgent advice ia available 24 hours, 365 days a year.

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients
Close

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients

T. 01268 524973 / 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/clinical-outpatients

St Luke's Hospice Clinical Outpatients team offers convenient, accessible and specialist key clinical procedures and palliative care, in a relaxed environment with appointments to meet your wellbeing and lifestyle needs. 

Key clinical procedures offered to outpatients:

  • Advance Care Planning clinics
  • Ascetic and Pleural drainage
  • Blood product transfusions
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist symptom management clinic
  • CVC line care
  • Intravenous fluids
  • IV Bisphosphonates infusions
  • IV Iron Infusions
  • Long term condition clinic – supporting heart failure, renal and liver conditions
  • Venepuncture

The service opening hours are 9.00am to 5.00pm.

St Luke's Hospice Community Service
Close

St Luke's Hospice community service provides assessment, support advice and care for people wishing to be cared  and supported in their locality community setting. The team also provide support in care homes, the hospice's rapid access service and there is the provision of clinical nurse specialists.

St Luke's Hospice In Patient Unit
Close

St Luke's Hospice provide specialist in-patient care for symptom management and end of life care.        

There are a total of 7 beds and 1 emergency bed in Basildon.

Hospice Rapid Access Service (HRAS) with 6 Beds in Thurrock.

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy Support

T. 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/physiotherapy-support

St Luke's Hospice Physiotherapy team can help when living with a life limiting illness.  Specialist Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists will listen and assess to support independence and aid mobility to manage symptoms and positively impact quality of life and wellbeing.

Family and loved ones are also supported in their caring roles. Advice, guidance and techniques on how to safely move and handle someone when caring for them can be accessed through conversation with the Physiotherapy team.

The offer includes:

  • individual assessments to help provide appropriate equipment, e.g. mobility aids
  • personalised treatment plans including non-drug pain relief treatments and exercises to improve mobility, independence and balance
  • treatments to assist with shortness of breath, fatigue or insomnia
  • group exercise classes and confidence building

Rehabilitative care is also provided by our Occupational Therapy team. 

St Luke's Hospice Pre & Post Bereavement Support
Close

St Luke's Hospice Pre & Post Bereavement Support

T. 01268 526259

W. https://www.stlukeshospice.com/bereavement-support

The Dove Community Counselling Service team at St Luke's Hospice offer bereavement support to adults living with a life limiting illness, from diagnosis through to end of life or into survivorship. 

Bereavement support is also available to those who may have experienced a bereavement from suicide, sudden, traumatic or accidental deaths, or within the last 5 years due to a life limiting illness.

Urgent Community Response Team
Close

All calls are answered by a senior triage nurse in the Single Point of Access, who will assess the case and advise if the service is able to stabilise and manage the patient.

The rapid resonse team aim to visit the patient within two hours.

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