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Issue 31
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| December 2022
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The Ayrshire Hospice Respite and Response team has added two new recruits to the team and The Article caught up with them to hear why they wanted to join the organisation. Helen Gilmour New starts proud to be part of the team!
Service in focus How Respite and Response works
By Wendy Short, Clinical Manager Living Well
The Ayrshire Hospice Respite and Response team provides high-quality specialist palliative care in the patient’s own home. The care provided is person-centered with the patient’s goals determining the plan of care. It supports people to have the choice to be cared for and to die at home. If it is what the patient wants, it will also aim to prevent them from being admitted to hospital.
Having spent many years working within the care sector in various different environments I have always aspired to work for the Ayrshire Hospice. My mum who was a registered nurse, worked in the Hospice and spoke fondly of the organisation, the environment and the service in its entirety. After being successful at the interview and starting some weeks ago as a full-time Care Assistant I have very quickly realised what a truly amazing service Respite and Response provides to patients and their families in the community and the team are very warm and welcoming. Working in the community as a care assistant is new to me and I can honestly say that providing care to someone in their Caroline Strachan I applied for a position as a Care Assistant with the Ayrshire Hospice Respite and Response community team as I was looking for a change from working in a care home setting, yet wanted to continue working in care. I feel passionate about being a care assistant and giving my best to care for and support both patients and their families. I was overwhelmed and so happy to be given the opportunity to work with the Respite and Response team, where I have been working since August this year. I am loving the job and working with the team who are all very supportive, friendly, and have made me feel very welcome. As a care assistant and one of the team, I feel privileged to be accepted into patients and family’s own homes to give care and support to all when needed most at a very hard time in their lives.
own home has been so awe-inspiring in terms of seeing the person comfortable in their home, having all the things they want and need by their side whilst receiving the care they need, where they want to be. The value in allowing carers some much- needed time out is such a precious resource. Families and carers can use this time to do what they wish in the knowledge that their loved one will be looked after in return. I am so happy and feel privileged to be part of such a brilliant team and look forward to my future within Respite and Response.
The service is committed to meeting and promoting the principles of: Dignity and Respect, Compassion, Being Included, Responsive Support and Wellbeing. During respite one of the experienced specialist palliative care assistants will visit and allow the carer to take time for themselves. Respite not only helps the carer feel less isolated but also the patient. The importance of wellbeing will be recognised, and the patient asked about what
matters to them, allowing them to continue as much as possible with their own interests. The team enjoy and are motivated to ‘think outside the box’ to assist patients to meet their own goals. Which could be anything from; assisting a patient to walk their dog, attend a football match, read the paper or celebrate an anniversary. A comfortable and dignified death in their own surroundings with
Respite and Response Team
all their loved ones with them is also an important goal that requires the care assistants to demonstrate specialist communication skills, care, and compassion. The Respite and Response Team work as part of the community nursing team and work very closely with the team of Specialist Palliative Care Nurses. These nurses are able to give advice and support to help patients achieve their goals.
Lottery Christmas Gifts
By Caroline Lyon, Senior Fundraiser
Why not think about giving friends & family an Ayrshire Hospice Lottery gift voucher this Christmas? You can enter your loved
the recipient if you wish! Each week, they could have the chance to win our top prize of £1,000 !!! It costs £1 per week to take part and your money really makes a difference to us.
ones into a fixed number of Hospice lottery draws from 30th December onwards. Vouchers are available at a value of your choice (upwards of £10) and can be delivered directly to
To order, get in touch on 01292 288488 or email lottery@ayrshirehospice. org . Players must be 16+.
Caroline Strachan & Helen Gilmour
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