‘Caring About Equality’ this Carers Week
This week (9-15th June) marks Carers Week in the UK, an annual campaign which highlights the efforts of unpaid carers and the challenges they face. The theme this year is ‘Caring About Equality’ - addressing these inequalities so carers have fairer access to the support they need and can live the life they want to live alongside their caring duties.
Garden House Hospice Care’s new 10-year strategy, ‘Every Person Matters’, works closely with carers and family members of patients and service users to achieve this. We understand that it can be daunting for everyone when someone close is diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Our Admiral Nurse, Lucy Cosgrove, specialises in dementia care and training, our Frailty Care Home Specialist team provide advance care planning, and our Family Support team offer psychological and emotional support.
Cathy Lambert is a carer for her husband, Geoff, who has Alzheimer’s. She experiences our support first-hand. Between diagnosis and discovering Garden House’s services, Cathy recalls feeling like she was ‘just left to deal with it’:
“It took nearly two years for Geoff to be diagnosed. When he eventually was, they sent us home from the memory clinic with two books. Other than that there was one follow-up phone call, and I never heard from them again. We were kind of just left to deal with it. So I ended up doing my own research, which is where I found out about the Hospice’s Healthy Memory Café and Dementia Carer's training.
“Friends and family are brilliant, but here, it’s different. You’re around others in a similar situation. We all appreciate how difficult it is, we can talk about what’s going on and we can share information. As well as the social element for Geoff, there’s always people here giving advice that I can take away with me. It shows that being a carer is not all doom and gloom - I go home feeling lifted for the rest of the day.”
Wife and husband Cathy and Geoff receive support from Garden House following Geoff’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis
Cathy also attended the ‘invaluable’ Dementia Carer’s training sessions over the course of four weeks:
“It was so useful to have people sharing their experiences around the table. We got very emotional, but it's interesting hearing other people’s stories. They’re all so different even though we’re under the same umbrella.
“All the information imparted to you is good, even if you don't need it straight away. I almost have a second sense now when it comes to recognising symptoms!”
Lucy Cosgrove, Admiral Nurse at Garden House Hospice Care, runs the Healthy Memory Café and Dementia Carer’s Training. She adds:
“We run the Healthy Memory Café for those living with dementia and their carer to attend together to get advice in a safe and relaxed environment, and break their normal shared routine. The training takes place at the same time as the café so carers can be reassured their loved one will be well looked after while they attend.
“It is so important that everyone has access to hospice services - we can support and alleviate distress at what can be a challenging time. If the families and carers of the person living with dementia aren’t well, they can’t care for their loved one, so supporting them and looking after their wellbeing is equally important.”
Admiral Nurse Lucy Cosgrove runs Garden House’s Healthy Memory Café and Dementia Carer’s Training
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“Carers Week 2025 is a crucial opportunity to raise awareness, highlighting those who provide essential care to family members, friends or neighbours who need it most. We want to see a future where carers have the right support and the same opportunities to lead healthy and financially secure lives alongside their caring role.”
To find out more about Garden House Hospice Care's services and how we support carers, please visit the links below.
