“To feel heard and understood as a carer means so much”: Recognising the unsung heroes who are carers for loved ones with a life limiting illness

This week is Carers’ Week – an annual opportunity to recognise the incredible individuals who are carers for their loved ones.

At Weldmar Hospicecare, we know just how challenging it can be for a wife, a husband, a son, a daughter – or indeed anyone else with a close connection – to be a carer for someone who is experiencing a life limiting illness.

Chloe Hook is Weldmar’s Carers’ Support Coordinator, and says, “Whilst our doctors, nurses, health care assistants and therapists do an amazing job, the day to day care for an individual with a progressive life limiting illness often falls to a family member or loved one. It isn’t a role that they have asked for. It’s never an easy thing for them to take on, but at Weldmar we understand that and offer carers all the support that we can.”

Chloe, alongside colleagues from the Patient and Family Support Services team, paid surprise visits to a number of carers across Dorset this week to hand over special treat bags. Inside, they would have found an afternoon tea box complete with a freshly baked scone from our hospice kitchen, cream, jam and Dorset Tea. There was also a decorated pebble – painted by Weldmar nurses – plus a candle, chocolate, and a poem.

One carer said, “To feel heard and understood as a carer means sooo much! I’m so grateful. Despite being the only family that my father has, that gift reminded me I’m not alone. I was choked up and gave Pauline such a big hug! What beautiful pebbles too! How lovely that they had been painted with carers like myself in mind with such sweet messages.”

Another told us, “Oh this is so lovely! What a surprise. I didn’t even know this was a thing! It’s really appreciated. Thank you and I’m sorry we weren’t at home to receive it from you. Strangely enough, we were at the hospice as my husband has just been admitted today for pain management. Hopefully, he can come home early next week.”

A card received at the hospice said, “It was such a lovely surprise when this was delivered this morning. The kindness and support from your team means a great deal.”

Thank you to everyone who is a carer. You are amazing.