Hospice of the Valleys - Care Home Community

Care Home Community

At Hospice of the Valleys we have a dedicated Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) who provides palliative care for our care home community in Blaenau Gwent.

Any life limiting condition can seem frightening. It is important to know that your CNS is there to support you to support your patients and their families.

All of our nurses have expert knowledge and skills in managing patient’s symptoms; recognising that emotional, spiritual, family and financial worries might be just as important to them as their physical problems.

We aim to:

Support you while your patients are facing serious illness
Provide advice about pain and other symptoms
Offer support to your patients
Inform you about other services that might be helpful to your patients, such as complementary therapy and support from the Family Support Team
Help you to support your patients in their Advance Care Planning (ACP)

Hospice staff will work alongside care home staff, the GP and District Nurses who will still be responsible for the medical and nursing care of patients in the care home community.

The CNS team provide 24 hour support, 7 days a week. After 10pm this support is telephone advice only.

Education

Hospice of the Valleys provide bespoke education and training in palliative and end of life care.

The training can be delivered on site or virtually.

Topics include:

Advance Care Planning
Recognising Dying
Symptom Management
Communication
Grief and Loss

To find our more or to arrange training for your care home please speak to the CNS or call 01495 717277

Phil was shell shocked when diagnosed with Prostate Cancer three years ago, age 44. Not knowing where else to turn, Phil self-referred to the hospice, already aware of the service as his father- in- law had received support. “When I was diagnosed I was unsure where to turn. The hospice helped me understand my diagnosis and then explained the services they could provide to support me and my family” Shortly after Phil’s referral his specialist nurse saw he was suffering from a number of stress induced problems and suggested complementary therapy. “I was sceptical to begin with, but I could soon feel the benefits. My stress levels decreased and my sleep dramatically improved”. Phil received reflexology, massage and aromatherapy he also received these treatments when staying at Ysbyty Aneurin Bevan hospital. The treatments improved Phil’s physical and psychological symptoms, allowing him to open up, discussing his fears and anxieties in a safe and relaxed environment. “It was my oasis in life, it was me time and I didn’t get that anywhere else. I would highly recommend having complementary therapies to anyone who is unsure. They have helped me no end and I haven’t looked back since” Phil explained. During Phil’s journey he accessed a variety of the hospice’s services including family support, nursing and therapies. The clinical team worked together providing the support Phil needed. Phil was discharged from the hospice as his symptoms were controlled and stable. Although Phil was anxious about discharge, he worked with the team and knows that should anything change, the hospice is only ever a phone call away.