STITCH KINDNESS, ONE HEART AT A TIME
In the lead-up to Carers Week (12–18 October), staff at HKH are warmly invited to join a drop-in stitching circle to create a beautiful felt heart. Each ‘pocket heart’ will be a small but meaningful gift for a carer supporting a loved one in hospital. “Kindness is already at the heart of what we all do at NSLHD,” says Barbara Lewis, Carer Support Service Manager. “Stitching a heart is a meaningful way to share that spirit. A few stitches can create a beautiful gift a carer can hold onto during tough times. We are reminding them how valued they are.”
For some carers, these hearts arrive at exactly the right moment.
Heidi, from the Hunter Valley, was recently gifted the first heart stitched by a hospital staff member. Her husband was critically ill in ICU. “We’ve been married for 41 years. Seeing him that sick... my heart was breaking,” she recalls. “A staff member handed me a gorgeous little felt heart, and, in that moment, it gave me goosebumps. I keep it in my front pocket and hold it when I need strength. It’s like it’s glowing.”
More than 130,000 unpaid carers in Northern Sydney support loved ones with illness, disability and age-related needs. Balancing care with life’s demands requires resilience and skill – from personal care to advocacy and complex decision-making. Many Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Hospital staff are also carers, managing both work and care duties. “All staff have a responsibility to identify and engage with carers as partners in care,” Barbara adds. “Carers know their loved one better than anyone. The evidence is that including carers in the patient journey leads to better outcomes.” But carers also need our support. According to Carers Australia, carers are more than twice as likely to have low levels of wellbeing than the average Australian adult. “These little hearts are a tangible reminder to our carers that they are seen, supported and never alone,” says Barbara.
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