What’s behind the Christmas card?
As last year we are incredibly proud to support one of our local partners Rennie Grove by using their Christmas Card to send our festive wishes but it’s important for us all to remember that its more than a charity name on a card and as a result we like to take this opportunity to learn more about the amazing work at Rennie Grove.
Every hour of every day, Rennie Grove hospice at home nurses visit patients and their families providing essential nursing care and reassurance so patients can remain at home rather than being admitted to hospital. This is even more important at bank holidays and weekends and over the festive period when many other services are unavailable.
Ursula’s Story
Ursula was cared for by the Rennie Grove hospice at home team in her final days. In gratitude for the high-standard of care provided, her brother, Robert, has shared her story to support our Big Give campaign this Christmas.
Watch Ursula’s story here: https://youtu.be/TBBAWSbptvY
Robert says during the last months of his sister’s life, hardly a day went by when he didn’t see or talk to the hospice at home nurses, and having that level of specialist support “was everything” to him and his family. It meant they could be “present every second” and his sister could be safe and comfortable surrounded by love, kindness and warmth until the end. He describes how he and Ursula spent quality time together during her final days, talking, watching TV, eating ice cream, sometimes just holding hands- like the “two best friends” they were.
Help Rennie Grove make a difference this Christmas.
Rennie Grove Hospice Care
Last year the Rennie Grove Hospice at Home teams provided 36,482 hours of care and made 15,649 visits to help keep patients out of hospital during the pandemic.
Rennie Grove nurses are busy caring for a growing number of patients who have multiple and complex conditions, which means longer visits are often needed either during the day or at night.
The charity has seen a rise of 23% in the number of visits to patients during the night, with telephone support at night also rising by 32%. Sadly, there has also been an increase in the number of deaths that need verifying at night and Rennie Grove nurses can be there to do this to help families through such a difficult time.
Whether it’s reassuring families or caring for a patient at their bedside, the Rennie Grove night team is on call every night of the year. When other services are not available, the teams can be called on at any time to help patients and their families cope, even at 3am in the morning.
This care, day or night, has never been so important, giving patients the choice to die in the comfort of their home surrounded by their loved ones. Last year 91% of our patients who wished to die at home were able to do so.
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