Support for Carers
We offer a broad range of services specifically to support families and carers.
We understand that a diagnosis of a terminal illness has a huge impact on the whole family, and those closest to the patient.
Every family member will have unique needs when coming to terms with this news and managing the journey ahead. Families play a vital role in caring for the individual, and at times this can make life stressful and challenging.
Our Family Support Team provide tailored emotional, psychological, social and spiritual support to everyone affected by the diagnosis.
You can contact our Family Support Team by calling 01622 792200 or emailing fst@hokh.co.uk.
At Heart of Kent Hospice, we support the whole family, this includes the children and young people who are affected by their loved one’s life limiting illness.
We offer a broad range of services specifically to support families and carers:
Counselling support
Our counselling service is available during a loved one’s illness and into bereavement. Counselling enables you to express your thoughts and feelings in a safe space, and consider ways that may help you cope during this time.
Bereavement support
Our bereavement services offer support and advice to the family of a patient who has died whilst under the hospice care for up to two years. We host a weekly bereavement drop-in every Wednesday at the hospice.
Spiritual care
The Spiritual Care Team is here to offer you spiritual support and a listening ear. Your individual experience, feelings and views will be respected whatever they may be.
Hospice Hub
Our Hospice Hub offers a range of sessions where our patients, family members and carers can access our specialist care, support and advice, as well as the opportunity to share peer-to-peer support.
Children and young people’s support
Children and young people whose loved one has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness have different needs to adult members of the family. We offer 1-1 sessions as well as monthly family drop-in sessions.
Welfare advice
Our Welfare Advisers can help you to claim any benefits you are entitled to and advise and signpost you on matters such as carers rights, nursing home fees and funeral costs.
The knowledge Vicky from the Family Support Team shared with us gave us the confidence to have this incredibly difficult conversation with George. Her understanding and insights were incredible. Almost everything that Vicky had told us he might say, he said. And we were prepared.
I can truthfully say that the only time we felt the utmost love, care, dignity and happiness in the whole ordeal was the time we spent at Heart of Kent Hospice. I owe some of the best last few days spent with Jon to them and they could not have been more caring and loving to us.
The Dementia Team gave us such a better understanding of our mum’s diagnosis; what to expect and how best to look after her. Their ongoing support and advice is invaluable.
The Hospice made such a difference. Joerg and the community team helped me more than they will ever know. With their help, Peter was fighting to the end. When he died, he knew I was with him. He had his children around him and his ‘mutleys’ - our two Westies - lying across his legs.
Before my mum, Ann, was referred to the Heart of Kent Hospice in September 2022, I didn't know much about the care and support they provided. However, after
witnessing the exceptional care and support my mum received, as well as the help given to our family, I can't express how incredible the Hospice is. They offer more assistance than many people may realise.
“From our first contact with Heart of Kent Hospice, we always had someone we could turn to. They do what is needed for you. It’s lots of the little amounts of help – that makes what they do a big help, for which I know Amelia and myself will always be grateful.”
Martha and Leanne's story
When Martha was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, she was referred to Heart of Kent Hospice who were able to offer advice, support and care to Martha, and her family. In this video, her wife Leanne shares their story. Through the care and support they received, the whole family were able to create precious memories together before Martha died.