Carers support

1
Carers support

• Tricia Wilcocks
• Sue Pitcher
• Carers Group Facilitators
• Ellenor Lions Hospices

2
Why did we need a program

• Experience of Carers support group
• Need for knowledge
• To Value carers time
• Provide them with a signpost
• Not to reinvent the wheel
• Identified the gaps that existed

3
Specialist Palliative Care

• Share expertise
• Help carers to face issues in reality but in a
  supportive environment
• Realism between the eyes
• Being honest
• Gentle yet empowering
• From denial to reality helps bereavement process.

4
Programme

• Run 3 times a year
• Varied the venue and the time of day following a
  questionnaire to carers. Hospitality essential
• Topics
• Equipment / practical help
• Finance
• Complementary therapies
• Disease awareness
• Time out for carers /looking after yourself
• Nutrition
• Social

5
Week ONEPRACTICALITIES

• Need for confidentiality
• Demonstration of equipment
• Role of District nurse (obtaining equipment)
• Role of O.Ts assessment
• Health safety issues
• Sharing of ideas and tips

6
Week TWOFINANCE

• Awareness of sound financial advice
• Legal matters regarding finances
• Benefits

7
Week THREECOMPLEMENTARY THERAPY

• Description and history of various treatments
• Demonstration
• Feel the effect for themselves

8
Week FOURDISEASE AWARENESS

• Disease process support
• The meaning of CANCER
• Advanced Illness
• Possible scenarios
• Symptom control
• Respite and all other possibilities

9
Week FIVETAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

• Openness about the emotional toll
• Loss and the inevitable
• Communicating the news with others

10
Week SIXNUTRITION

• Change of eating habits
• Supplements
• Support from the Lions Hospice kitchen

11
Week SEVENOPEN SESSION

• Social session
• Questions
• Introduce all other support services

12
Barriers

• Barriers for carers include
• Time of day
• Venue
• Transport
• Leaving the person home alone
• Barriers for the service include
• Will we be inundated with requests
• Can we cope

13
What did we learn

• Personal invitations get the best response
• Social session added after the first group
• Starts discussions between carer and patient
• Some carers will be hostile to some topics
• Some carers will be in denial
• Strong bonds can develop between carers as they
  share their knowledge. Reduces sense of isolation
• Carers need to be cared for First cup of tea

14
Pitfalls to avoid

• Be careful of venue for evening group. Need to
  use a venue that is open after hours where
  possible.
• Carers feeling compelled to stay on course even
  though the patient has died
• Remembering to include all group carers eg new
  group added to our list through the
  breathlessness programme
• Time lag can be problematic but has to weighed
  against the practicalities for staff.

15
Importance of endings

• Stopping after 7 sessions is a positive move
• Avoids group clique
• Fosters independent support
• Signpost to other services
• Importance of closure for staff and carers

16
Thank you for listening

• Any questions