Information Support for Carers of the Terminally Ill
Help the Hospices has worked with info to go, an information consultancy to find out about the information needs of carers of the terminally ill. This has involved:
- A review of literature into the information needs of carers of the terminally ill.
- A questionnaire to gather information on existing services and information resources to support carers of the terminally ill.
You can download a 2-page briefing document about this work. You can also download a poster about the information work, presented at the Hospice Care conference in October 2007.
Information Checklist
A checklist of the information needs of carers of the terminally ill can be downloaded for hospices and other professionals to use.
Information needs include:
- Financial benefits
- Employment rights of the carer and patient
- Legal issues, eg Wills and power of attorney
- Nutrition and diet
- Carer's health - looking after themselves
- Emotional & spiritual support
- Befriending services
- Support groups
- Counselling - stress, coping, relationships, crisis management
- Practical support, including respite and day care
- Equipment and accessibility
- Information about the cared for person's illness
- Symptom management
- Medication, including side effects
- Pain management
- Support caring for someone who is dying
- Funeral planning
- Bereavement support