Contacts
Contact:
Tanya Sealey
Project Manager
Organisation:
Help the HospicesCare for the Carers of the Terminally Ill
34-44 Britannia Street London WC1X 9JG United Kingdom
Tel:
020 7520 8200 (Switchboard)
020 7520 8892 (Direct)
Email:
t.sealey@helpthehospices.org.uk
Website:
Case study:
11 May 2010
Care for the carers of the terminally ill
Key points
- Hospices and other organisations caring for the terminally ill have received big grants to help care for the carers
- Ten grants of up to £50,000 will help develop innovative schemes that will help communities
- Twelve seedcorn grants will go to hospices to provide support services
- The four-year project is also developing a range of information resources for carers and professionals
Hospices and other organisations looking after people who are terminally ill have received grants worth around £500,000 to help support and care for the carers.
The Help the Hospices organisation has awarded 10 major grants, of up to £50,000 each, for hospices and other organisations to develop innovative services that will have a large impact in a local community.
In addition 12 seedcorn grants, of up to £5,000, have been awarded to local, independent hospices to kick start or pilot a support service for carers.
The project also aims to improve the information available to both carers and professionals.
Resources for carers include:
The Caring for Carers pack, which contains information on caring at home, money matters, nursing, legal matters and death and dying.
This is updated annually and is also available to download.
The young carers section of the Caring for Carers pack is also available as a standalone guide.
Caring Counts is a 20-page booklet for carers.So far 71 hospices have produced and distributed customised versions of the booklet.
A Scottish version of the booklet, with relevant information and signposting, is currently being developed.
A guide to short-term, flexible working solutions for carers, developed in partnership with Working Families.
A version for employers has also been developed.
Support for professionals includes:
The Carers Services Guide is for professionals planning to develop a support service for carers of the terminally ill, and includes an overview of carers’ legislation, practical tips and case studies.
Carers’ awareness workshops for professionals working in hospices, in partnership with Carers UK.Hospices are also invited to host regional workshops.
Since April nearly 3,000 flexible working booklets for carers have been downloaded.
Nearly 2,000 copies of Caring Counts have been downloaded since January.
The projects funded via the major grants programme are being formally evaluated by Lancaster University with results available towards the end of 2008.
The organisers have been concerned not to duplicate existing information and support services.
They are also trying to access carers who do not access hospice care by, for example, asking hospices to distribute Caring Counts via local networks such as GP surgeries.
It is envisaged that large parts of the four-year project, such as the information resources, training and policy work, will be integrated into Help the Hospices’ core services.
However, the organisers may seek additional funds for discrete activities such as a publication based on the findings of the evaluation research project.
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