Support for families and carers

Our services

We have a range of supportive care services available to patients and their families. These include:

Family Support
Bereavement support
Music and art therapies
Complimentary therapies
Hydrotherapy
Social work

Therapies are usually offered in short session blocks, then reviewed. This ensures we offer the most appropriate type of therapy and monitor its effect.

Make a referral

24-hour advice lines

Keech Hospice has two dedicated 24-hour advice lines:

They support patients and families but also offer specialist guidance to health and social care professionals.

Adult’s: 0808 180 7788

Children’s: 0800 035 6497

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Family support

Our emotional support practitioners and counsellors offer emotional talking support to patients and their families, including children, helping them cope better with their situation and feel more prepared.

Family support can be given at the hospice, at home or – for children and young people – at school and can be accessed either through one-to-one sessions or by attending one of our support groups.

Bereavement support

Post-bereavement, we continue to support families, giving them the opportunity to share their feelings and talk about their loss, using the most appropriate supportive care service.

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From day one, Keech has been a place of understanding and warmth

Keech gave us a safe place to play and the chance to just be a family

Read Amelia's story

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Music and art therapies

Music and art therapy can offer patients and their families psychological and emotional support in a confidential, safe environment, where the use of music or art helps to express feelings.

Working with a fully trained therapist, to help:

Communicate issues that may be difficult or confusing
Think about loss and change
Be creative
Make choices or take control
Improve ability to cope
Increase feelings of wellbeing

Patients and family members don’t need to play a musical instrument or be good at art to take part.

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Hydrotherapy pool

The hydrotherapy pool at our Luton site is designed to cater for the needs of people of all ages and disabilities. It has hoists, ramps and accessible changing rooms to ensure access
for all and features special sensory stimulation equipment including underwater lights and music as well as water fountains. The water is heated to 35°C, providing a safe, warm environment.

Using the pool can help:

Relieve anxiety and stress
Aid poor circulation
Relieve muscle pain, spasm, and inflammation
Create memories for patients and their family

The pool is managed by a pool supervisor, with the support of volunteer lifeguards.

Complementary Therapies

These work alongside medical care to help reduce stress and anxiety; manage symptoms such as pain, breathlessness, nausea, and fatigue; alleviate the side effects of treatments; improve sleep patterns; and relax tensed muscles.

We can offer patients and other family members directly
involved in their care a range of physical therapies
including massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, Indian head massage and reiki.

We also offer non-physical support through mindfulness training and relaxation techniques. All support is tailored
to individual needs, following an assessment, and is provided by a team of registered therapists.

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Social work

Our social work team support patients, carers and families across our whole service, offering social, emotional and practical support.

The team offers a wide range of advice and support including sourcing practical help at home, advice around finances, benefits and grants, help with housing, advocacy, working with schools or employers, and offering general psychosocial support.

The team work with a wide range of professionals within social services and health services to advocate for our patients.

Alongside our clinical colleagues, the team undertake work around helping people to prepare for the end of their lives through, memory making, advance care planning including creating legal documents such as Lasting Power of Attorney, Will writing and providing practical information regarding funerals and bereavement processes.

Social workers also support patients discharged from our inpatient units to go home, or to an alternative care placement with on-going care and support, liaising with local authorities and care boards to secure the appropriate source of funding.

The team underpins safeguarding at Keech Hospice, as ensuring the health and welfare of those using our services is paramount.

Our social work team also supports those patients whom do not have the mental capacity to make certain decisions for themselves, through appropriate legal frameworks, including Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

Quality of Care

Our service is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who are responsible for regulating and inspecting voluntary and private health care organisations.

Find out more