If you have a life-threatening or terminal illness, hospice care seeks to help you live as fully as possible.
As well as looking after your physical needs, hospices look after your emotional and social needs. They will also support your carers, family members and friends.
Hospice care is provided in a wide range of settings, not just hospice buildings. This could include your own home, day centres and care homes.
Hospices provide services such as:
- pain and symptom control
- psychological, social and spiritual support
- rehabilitation
- practical legal and financial advice
- complimentary therapies
- counselling
- bereavement support
In Derbyshire there are 4 hospices:
Have fun and support your local hospice
Ashgate, Blythe House, Treetops and Helen's Trust all organise fun events and activities throughout the year to raise funds to help pay their operating costs and improve the care they can provide for their patients.
Why not get involved, have some fun and support a good cause? Activities range from sponsored climbing expeditions and cycling challenges to quiz nights, vintage fairs and coffee mornings.
End of life care
Many terminal illnesses can affect people's ability to express their wishes. That's why it's important to make plans for end of life care early on.
It's equally important to prepare instructions for your funeral. This will ensure your wishes are respected and allow loved ones to make plans for funeral costs.
The management of pain and symptoms, and the provision of psychological, social and spiritual support to achieve the best quality of life for patients and their families is known as palliative care.
Palliative care can also be appropriate earlier in the course of illness alongside other treatments.
End of life care and choices
NHS Choices offers a range of advice and information on end of life issues including:
- coping financially
- planning ahead
- your rights and choices
- where you can die
- pain relief
- making the most of the time you have left
Will making
You can find out information about making or changing your will in the money and legal matters section of our website.
Citizens Advice will also give you useful information.