Hospice launches new support programme for carers

Nearly 82,000 people in Staffordshire provide unpaid care each week, often at a cost to their own health and wellbeing. Staffordshire County Council reports that carers are twice as likely to experience poor health as the general population, due to factors such as stress, financial concerns, a lack of information, and social isolation.

In response, Katharine House Hospice has introduced Wellbeing for Carers, designed to offer practical help, useful skills, and support from others facing similar challenges.

The programme was developed following feedback from carers attending existing hospice support groups. Many said they were struggling to manage the physical and emotional demands of caring while maintaining their own wellbeing.

Caring for someone with an incurable illness can bring unique emotional pressures. Alongside the physical demands involved, many carers live with ongoing uncertainty about the future, the emotional impact of knowing their loved one’s condition will not improve, and the experience of anticipatory grief, grieving while their loved one is still alive.

Rachel Bailey, staff nurse at Katharine House Hospice, said: “Many of the carers we support are not only managing day-to-day care, but also living with the emotional weight of knowing their loved one’s illness will not get better. That uncertainty can be incredibly hard to carry, and it’s something we see every day.

“Carers often put their own needs last, but caring can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

“If you don’t look after yourself, it becomes much harder to care for someone else. This programme is about giving carers the tools, confidence and breathing space they need.”

Weekly sessions cover practical and wellbeing-focused topics including adapting to the changes caring brings, understanding how care in the community works, nutrition advice, and relaxation techniques.

Rachel Lambert, Complementary Therapist at the hospice, added: “We aim to give people coping skills they can use at home, including relaxation and breathing techniques that help manage stress and anxiety.”

Carers who have already taken part have spoken positively about the impact of the programme.

Rob Hemmings, who cares for his wife Ann, said: “It has been amazing and so informative. There is so much support there that I didn’t know existed, let alone how to access it. It feels like a huge weight has been lifted.”

Joy Skidmore, who cares for her husband, added: “It has boosted my confidence massively. Knowing I am not alone has really made a difference to my outlook, and I’ve made some lovely new friends.”

The Wellbeing for Carers programme is open to anyone caring for a patient already known to Katharine House Hospice. The charity supports people living with a wide range of incurable illnesses, including respiratory failure, heart failure, renal failure, neurological conditions, such as MS and Parkinson’s, cancer and many others.

For more information, visit khhospice.org.uk or contact the hospice directly.