DOUGIE’S DECADES OF CARING AT HOME
Hospice marking 20 years of helping people to spend their final days in their own homes
THE Douglas Macmillan Hospice is celebrating 20 years of helping thousands of patients to spend their final days at home.
April 2 marked two decades since Hospice at Home was launched thanks to a £50,000 grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
In that time, Hospice at Home has provided a personalised package of care for more than 6,900 people – along with emotional support for many families. It is now a well-established element of Dougie Mac’s services, funded by donations.
Director of Care Jeanette Mccartney started her time at Dougie Mac as a team leader for Hospice at Home.
She said: “We saw increasing numbers of patients preferring to receive care at home rather than at the hospice. We wanted to offer our patients more choice surrounding the care they received.
“Families accept us in to their homes at a very emotional period of their lives. Staff and families often say we arrive as strangers and leave as friends.
“I would like to thank everyone involved over the years that have helped make Hospice at Home what it is today – a truly vital, and highly regarded service for local people and their families.”
Claire Jeffries and her brother, Howard Moore, say they remember how comforting the service was when the team cared for their dad John in 2003.
Claire said: “Dad was diagnosed with incurable kidney cancer in 2002, which had spread throughout his entire body. Dad wanted to be at home and my mum vowed to care for him herself until we were introduced to the Hospice at Home service.
“Initially the Hospice at Home healthcare support workers just visited for a couple of hours at a time to give my mum a break. As dad’s needs increased, they came more frequently and stayed late into the night if we needed.
“They just slotted into our everyday lives and became part of the family. They all made us feel incredibly relaxed and calm during such a distressing time but it never felt like they were there just to do a job – they really did care about us.
“Having dad at home meant we could all be together with no restrictions. We shared special moments that wouldn’t have been possible without Hospice at Home.
“You can’t begin to imagine how brilliant the team are at supporting patients and their families at such a traumatic time.”
Hospice at Home began with a team 11 support workers. It now comprises 18 staff members who provide care 365 days a year to patients and their families in Stoke-on-trent and North Staffordshire.
Janet Hackney and Dianne Riley are two of the original team still working there today.
Janet said: “People think that this is a sad job but caring for patients and supporting their loved ones through their anxieties or worries is so rewarding. I have been welcomed by so many lovely families, each one so grateful for our support.”
Dianne said: “I feel so privileged that families allow me to be with their loved ones at such a difficult and personal time. I’ve met some beautiful people over the past 20 years and I hope I made a difference to a peaceful end.”