Time To Talk About End-Of-Life - Dying Matters Awareness Week

During Dying Matters Awareness Week, we look at keeping the conversation around dying open, and at Bluebird Care Wandsworth's End of Life' care services.

Dying Matters Awareness Week, from 8^th – 14^th May, aims to increase understanding and change attitudes by encouraging us all to start talking openly about death, dying and bereavement.  As End-of-Life Care providers we understand that death is a topic that many people can find difficult to think about. In our society a certain amount of fear and stigma persist and discussion of what will happen at the end of our lives is not something many people are comfortable with. That’s why the Dying Matters campaign is so valuable – the more we accept and demystify death, dying and bereavement, the better equipped we are to navigate this stressful time.

At Bluebird Care Wandsworth, we believe that having the right support during this difficult time is hugely important, not only for people who are nearing the end of their lives but also for those around them.

What Can We Do To Help People In The Final Phase Of Life?

Coming to terms with the emotional impact of dying and coping with the practical challenges it brings can be exhausting and extremely stressful for everyone involved. Our mission is to provide the support, stability and reassurance that enable the person and their family to continue with their lives as positively and with as much dignity as possible. Given the choice, most people would prefer to spend the end of their lives in the familiar comfort of their own home surrounded by the people they love.  As a homecare provider, we are acutely aware of the importance of our role in supporting this - our Customers and their families know that we are here for them in what can be some of their darkest times and we take our responsibility very seriously.  With our person-centred, flexible and compassionate approach we can tailor our care to each individual and let the person decide what is right for them.  
 
Employing The Right People and Collaborative Working

Caring for someone who is nearing the end of their life takes a special kind of person and our Care Assistants are not only highly trained but have the natural compassion, sensitivity and empathy required to provide the End-of-Life Care that everyone deserves. Our dedicated teams also have the support of an experienced End-of-Life Care Champion who co-ordinates the delivery of our service, ensuring that every Customer receives the highest quality care.

It’s often the case that the care people need towards the end of their lives can alter from day to day so a flexible, multi-disciplinary approach is key to accommodating changing need. Excellent social care doesn’t happen in isolation but is at its best when agencies work together to pool their expertise. That’s why as well as our Customers and their families, we liaise with community palliative care teams, specialists and hospices, ensuring our Customer and their family are at the heart of everything we do.  The quality of our service is widely recognised and that is why we are a preferred care provider for the Wandsworth Care Coordination Centre, an award-winning service funded by the NHS that brings together services from St George’s NHS Hospital Trust, Marie Curie and home care providers that support people at the end of their life to stay at home, right up to the end.
 
The start of the conversation

Being more open about the final phase of life is hugely important if we are to improve the End-of-Life experience for many in society and Dying Matters Awareness Week is a positive step forward in highlighting the issues. As highly experienced care providers committed to providing the best End-Of-Life care, we understand that preparing for this eventuality and knowing where to turn for help can make all the difference when the time comes. Our daily experiences supporting people to live well until the very end of their lives constantly reinforces the value of what we do and why.  

For more information about our specialist End-Of-Life care and support services, view our contact us form, or contact our friendly team on 020 8877 4950.