What is Supportive Care?

Supportive Care is a non-clinical service at the hospice that provides holistic support to patients living with a palliative or end of life diagnosis, or to those who may be grieving the death of somebody important to them. 

There are three main areas:  

• Counselling: Time for people to talk through their worries and fears, either before or after bereavement.  

• Children and Young People’s service: Support for children of palliative patients or children who have been bereaved, through group activities, resources and one-to-one sessions.  

• Spiritual Care: Identifying what is most important to each person, whether that’s a spiritual, religious or pastoral need. 

Support can be offered from the point of diagnosis for patients and the people important to them, and we offer bereavement support from 12 weeks after the death of a loved one. There is no “cut off” point to access our services – we have people referred to us several years after a death of someone special. 

The Spiritual Care team may also contact families in the weeks after the death of family member or friend if they are already known to us and would like to keep in contact. Importantly, we support palliative and end of life patients and the people important to them regardless of diagnosis – it isn’t just for those affected by cancer. 

Helping people through uncertainty

Supportive care isn’t just about supporting people going through an illness themselves. It’s about helping people adjust following the diagnosis of somebody close to them and supporting them as they navigate – or prepare to navigate – life without them. 

We often hear the same challenges come up: fear of death, fear of life without somebody being there, not knowing when someone will die, what happens after death, whether it will be painful, and what dying is like. For children, it’s about helping them understand what death means – for younger ones, understanding that it’s permanent – and preparing people to help children face a future without a parent or relative.  

Providing a safe space to be heard 

Supportive care is delivered in many ways. Counselling can take place face-to-face at the hospice, by telephone or online. Our family support groups run once a month and are open to children of all ages and their families. They meet children at the hospice, in schools or at home. Our Spiritual Care team works with people in our Inpatient Unit, Day Services and out in the community. 

Walking alongside people with compassion

Supportive care at Ashgate is here for patients and those important to them who may need emotional, spiritual or practical support. From counselling and social work to spiritual care and support for children and young people, our team helps people live well for as long as possible and cope with the challenges that come with serious illness, dying and grief.

It’s about meeting people where they are, walking alongside them with compassion, understanding and hope.