East Lancashire Hospice has launched a new appeal, Bring Care Home, shining a spotlight on its essential Hospice at Home service. The campaign calls on the support of the local community to help fund care for people living with life-limiting illnesses in the place they feel most comfortable – home.
The Bring Care Home campaign highlights the growing need for specialist palliative care in people’s own homes, across Blackburn, Darwen, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley. With rising demand and increasing pressures on hospice services, the NHS and social care services, East Lancashire Hospice is urging the public to donate and support the delivery of compassionate, personalised care directly where it matters most.
Last year, East Lancashire Hospice’s Hospice at Home team carried out 2,321 home visits, providing more than 9,400 hours of care. On average, patients were supported for over 71 days, with 31% living with non-cancer-related life-limiting illnesses.
Offered seven days a week, this service is provided free of charge to the local community and helps to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, facilitating smoother transitions from hospital to home.
“Everyone deserves compassionate, dignified care – especially in the place they know and love,” shared Corinne Collier, Head of Hospice at Home at East Lancashire Hospice. “Our Hospice at Home team makes this possible for hundreds of people each year. But we cannot do it alone. Every donation brings care home.”
For many families, the Hospice at Home service has become not just support, but a lifeline.
For Fahrat Nawaz and her mother, caring for her father, Habib Nawaz who lives with both Parkinson’s disease and dementia has been an emotional and physically demanding journey. “Me and my mum were really struggling. At night my dad doesn’t sleep, so caring for him 24/7 became exhausting for us,” Fahrat explains.
“East Lancashire Hospice not only helps my dad, but they’ve helped us mentally and physically. It gives us peace of mind knowing that we’re not doing it all alone.“
For Tony, who lives with dementia, and his partner Maureen, the Hospice at Home service has been a source of comfort, connection and care.
“When you’re struggling with a life-limiting illness, it means so much to have someone come in and help you through the day. You find yourself looking forward to their visits. It’s very comforting,” shares Tony.
Maureen adds, “Tony’s not very mobile anymore, and without a car, getting to the hospice would be difficult. This way, we get the support we need right here in our own home.
“When the nurses are here, I can step away and do some shopping or just have a little time to myself, knowing Tony is in safe hands. That break is so important. It’s what carers need.”
Tony also urges the public to support the Hospice however they can: “It’s a free service, but it only runs because of donations. If people didn’t donate, how would you keep such an incredible place going? Every penny helps bring this level of care into people’s homes. It really is exceptional.”
For Kay and her husband Harry, who lives with vascular dementia, the Hospice at Home team provides critical support when things get overwhelming.
“When the nurses come, I can just have five minutes to myself. Even if that’s to do the washing or some ironing, I get a break,” Kay shares.
“Harry calls for me constantly, ‘Where are you? What are you doing? Why aren’t you sitting here with me?’, but when the nurses are here, it gives me time to breathe. Time to get a wash on. Time to rest. Time to sleep. That’s what keeps me going.
“East Lancashire Hospice is more than what people think. They help in ways you don’t always expect. That one visit makes such a huge difference. As a community, we need to support the hospice – they need it. Families like ours; we wouldn’t manage without them.” says Kay.
The stories of Fahrat & Habib, Tony & Maureen, and Kay & Harry are just a few among many, each showing the immense value and emotional relief that East Lancashire Hospice’s Hospice at Home service brings to families across East Lancashire.
East Lancashire Hospice is now calling on local residents, businesses, schools and organisations to support their Bring Care Home appeal, helping to extend the vital service to even more families in need.
Every Donation, Brings Care Home.
