Anyone living with, or caring for someone, with a life-limiting illness across Forth Valley can for the first time speak directly to the Live your Life Team at Strathcarron Hospice, without requiring a professional referral.
These experienced Strathcarron Hospice nurses, creative arts facilitators, complementary therapists and community-based connectors and volunteers offer practical, clinical and emotional support and advice.
Many people still associate palliative care with care in the terminal stage of a life-limiting illness, such as cancer, lung, heart or kidney failure and neurological diseases.
However, the lives of up to 80 per cent of people who die could have improved quality of life, benefiting from palliative care as early as the period of first diagnosis of their illness.
Strathcarron’s new Live Your Life hospice care model is set to increase access to all aspects of hospice care, with the aim to reach people significantly earlier in their illness.
At any point, the Live Your Live team can also refer people on to any member of the wider hospice team and explore support, either virtually, or through local groups or written resources within local communities.
Strathcarron’s director of nursing Marjory MacKay said: “When Covid-19 forced us to close down day care, it also presented us with an opportunity to identify the limitations of our traditional place-based day service model.
“There was a need to innovate and modify the service to be in a position to deliver support to even more people who would not normally access hospice care, including carers, where and when they need it.
“If you are living with, or caring for someone with a life-limiting illness, we start with a good conversation to explore what’s important to you. Together, we will help navigate through challenges to find ways for you to get on with living your life. You can shape this support, tapping in and out, as and when you need us. This support may also help you to think ahead and plan your wishes for end-of-life care”.
With many of the changes during the pandemic made at pace, in response to changing need, a number of hospice service updates and ideas newly implemented will now become permanent features going forward.
The opportunity to expand the traditional day care model, as well as review the scope of support ‘at home’ was one of these opportunities.
Initially all patients and carers were supported by phone or virtual means, engaging them in social and collective projects, as well as responding to clinical issues.
Visit www.StrathcarronHospice.net for more information on Live your Life team and service. Open 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday the Live your Life team Support
Line is available via tel: 01324 827383 or email: fv.scliveyourlife@nhs.scot.
