Care at home - finding the right support

Many people diagnosed with a terminal illness choose to spend their last days at home.

In such circumstances, a degree of supportive care is usually necessary in addition to medical treatment, and this can place a huge strain on the carer; often a family member, partner or friend.

People who can help

A number of support networks exist to provide practical and emotional support to both patients and carers.

These include:

• Your local GP - can act as a gateway to other services.
• Your district nurse - can direct nursing care at home, and provide medical treatment and equipment, for example a commode or pressure-relief mattress.
• Social services - can arrange home help (assistance with shopping, cleaning and laundry), 'meals on wheels' and emergency call equipment such as bells and alarms.
• A palliative care nurse - a clinical nurse specialist (such as a Macmillan nurse); can care for people with advanced and terminal illness following referral by a GP, hospital team or district nurse.
• Your local hospice - can provide specialist palliative nursing, and medical, social and emotional support.