Hospice at Home Volunteers is now part of Keech Hospice Care and consists of three Part time Volunteers Coordinators and an Administration Assistant. It was established in 1989 and has been working in the community providing a totally confidential service to clients and their carers ever since. The name was chosen because we wanted to offer people across all age groups, who are living with a life limiting illness, the help, support, love and friendship that is found in all hospices but in the comfort and privacy of their own homes.
A new friendship is established between the volunteer and the client which allows the carers to have a break whilst their loved one is in the care of someone they can trust.
No charge is made to clients, their families, carers or friends. Neither does our service affect the receipt of benefits or the care they are entitled to from the NHS. The running costs and volunteer’s expenses are met by donations to our service or grants from the local authority, primary care trust and service organisations in our community.
Experience has shown that carers find a two hour break to go shopping, have their hair done, call on a friend or just go for a walk provides real benefits. The client finds a new friend who will listen, talk or read to them or just sit should they wish to sleep. In some instances the volunteer will, with permission, take them to the shops, post office, garden centre, etc., for a recreational break from the family home.
