I’m caring for someone. What help is available?
Will I get any financial help?
How do I know I need help?
What kind of bereavement support is available to me?
Can you help with funerals?
Can you offer support to everyone?
Initially I had said that I didn’t want to receive support, can I change my mind?
What does children's supportive care mean?
How can I get support for my children?
Where does the childrens' supportive care service take place?
What age does my child have to be to receive support?
I’m caring for someone. What help is available?
Caring for someone can be about loneliness and isolation and, for many, grieving starts even before the death of their loved one. If you are caring for a patient at home, our team of Home Care Specialist Nurses are there to help you; assessing your needs, offering practical advice and helping you link up with other agencies that provide carer support. Our social workers can help you access various social care support such as care at home, specialist equipment and welfare and benefits advice. For carers known to The Hospice of St Francis we offer a home sitting service, carers group and reflexology and stress management.
Will I get any financial help?
Individuals and carers may be entitled to financial assistance to help with the possible reduction in income and cost of care. The social work team can help you look at the benefits available and assess your entitlement to each one.
How do I know I need help?
It can be helpful to seek reassurance from others who have also experienced grief and an understanding of what people have commonly undergone when grieving, although, every person’s grief is so very individual. If you are experiencing continued, prolonged fears or anxieties about your well being, obsessional thoughts or behaviour or thoughts of self-harm you really need to seek support.
What kind of bereavement support is available to me?
We have a team of staff and
volunteers providing bereavement support to family members and close
friends to those who are bereaved of someone under our
care. If you would like to speak to someone on a one-to-one
basis at The Hospice of St Francis we can offer an informal Bereavement
Support Group, telephone support calls, home visits or individual
counselling sessions with a counsellor.
Can you help with funerals?
Our Chaplain, The Rev'd Liz Hughes is able to talk through funeral arrangements and may be able to help with the service.
Can you offer support to everyone?
No, unfortunately, at present we have to limit our adult services to those linked with hospice care. This can be directly with St Francis, however if your loved one received hospice care elsewhere in the country yet you live locally to us here, then we may be able to help. If this has not been the case, please fell free to ring us and we can help to find other support available in your area.
Initially I had said that I didn’t want to receive support, can I change my mind?
Of course. Just call the Supportive Care Team on 01442 869550 and we will get straight back to you. There is no set timescale for grief, each individual may benefit from talking through their feelings at different times.
What does children's supportive care mean?
We support children pre and post bereavement by encouraging them to express their feelings, this might be through play, story telling art or by listening and activating conversation.
How can I get support for my children?
We aim to help anyone making contact with us in finding appropriate support in their area. When we are caring or have cared for someone connected to a child or children, referrals may be from parents, guardians, your GP, child's school or other agencies.
Where does this service take place?
We offer home visits at a mutually convenient time or you can come to see us at the Hospice.
What age does my child have to be to receive support?
We support children and young people from aged one to eighteen.