Families and Carers

Providing support to families and carers throughout a patient's illness and afterwards is key to the Hospice's commitment to holistic care. We offer our carers a full assessment to establish their individual needs from a practical, emotional and environmental of view and offer a range of services aimed at meeting their specific needs.

Support can be offered in many ways, from having the opportunity to stay overnight at the Hospice with a patient, to offering counselling with our family support team.

Family Support Services

Our family support team provides emotional, pyschological and spiritual support for patients, families and carers. The team is made up of a range of professionals including counsellors and chaplains. Support can begin at any point in the patient's illness, can continue into bereavement and is available to both adults and children.

There are a number of ways in which people can access the support which suits them best. For instance, one to one counselling, bereavement groups, carers groups and a more informal monthly bereavement drop-in service.

Children and Young Person's Bereavement Support

Advice and support for children and young people up to the age of eighteen who are facing or who have experienced bereavement is also available through our family support team through one to one counselling, support groups and a drop in service. Our support groups provide a safe, friendly and fun place for children and young people to express and explore how they think and feel about the loss of a loved one. We encourage open discussion between the children using art, colours and activities to introduce a gentle way of sharing their experience. 

As part of this service we have the Butterfly Project which is a Big Lottery Funded programme in collaboration with two other West of Scotland Hospices. This ensures children and young people across the West of Scotland have access to support and advice.

Complementary Therapy

The complementary therapy service at the Hospice is also available for carers and family members in order to aid relaxation and manage stress levels. Therapies currently available include massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, reiki and indian head massage. All of the practitioners working within the Hospice hold a qualification to at least diploma level in their relevant therapy.

24 hour helpline

The Hospice clinical team are available to offer emergency advice on any issues being experienced by patients or carers who are under Hospice care via a direct line to the in-patient ward - 0141 420 6785.