F.A.Q

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice Care is an overall term for a care programme that provides a centralised programme of palliative and supportive services to people living with a life-threatening illness and their families. The programme is in the form of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care; such services are provided by an interdisciplinary team of professionals and volunteers.

What is Palliative Care?

Palliative care is the active holistic care for patients with advanced, progressive illness. Management of pain and other symptoms and the provision of psychological, social and spiritual support is paramount. The goal of palliative care is achieving the best quality of life for patients and their families. Many aspects of palliative care are also applicable earlier in the course of the illness in conjunction with other treatments.

What is Supportive Care?

Supportive care is an ‘umbrella’ term for all services, both generalist and specialist, that may be required to support people with life-threatening illness. It is not a response to a particular disease or a stage of one, but is based on an assumption that people have needs for supportive care from the time that the possibility of a life-threatening condition is raised.

Who’s in the Family?

Family includes informal carers and all those who matter to the patient.

What services are available at the Heart of Kent Hospice?

Please click here to see what services are available.

How much will it cost?

All services at the Heart of Kent Hospice are free to those who need it.

How long is the average stay in the Hospice?

The average length of stay at the Hospice is 11 days but each patient's stay is individual and tailored to their personal needs.

How much does it cost to run the Heart of Kent Hospice each year?

The Heart of Kent Hospice is an independent local charity. It is not part of the NHS. Although we receive some government funding, we must raise over two-thirds of the running costs ourselves.

We need to raise around £6,000 every day.

What does the Hospice do to raise funds?

We raise money through a range of fundraising events and activities, trading via our shops, donations, legacies and our Hospice Lottery.

How can I help to raise funds?

There is a number of ways in which you can help. Please click here for details.