A respite service for people with progressive neurological diseases has been launched by Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland.
The charity has been awarded a grant from Hospice UK, funded by the Masonic Charitable Foundation, to expand its respite care.
Over the next 12 months, the grant will fund 520 hours of dedicated nurse-led respite care, supporting people with complex neurological conditions and their families.
It will allow caregivers to take essential breaks, knowing their loved ones are receiving expert, compassionate support.
The project will provide flexible blocks of up to five hours of respite care, tailored to the needs of patients and families.
Clinical support may include symptom management, medication administration, enteral feeding, or airway management—delivered by trained nursing staff in the patient’s own home.
Ashley Macaulay, director of clinical services at Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded this grant out of 55 applicants across the country.
“Thanks to the generosity of our community, we already provide free respite provision and see first-hand the impact it has.
“This project will allow us to extend specialist support to families caring for loved ones with complex needs, giving carers the emotional resilience and practical space to rest or spend time on activities that are important to them.”
Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland is one of 11 hospices nationally to receive funding for projects supporting patients with progressive neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Multiple System Atrophy, Corticobasal Degeneration, and Myasthenia Gravis.
As with most Hospice at Home services, anyone can make a referral – there is no need to go through a GP or healthcare professional.
This specialist respite project is specifically for patients in the last 12 months of life with a confirmed diagnosis of a progressive neurological disease and associated complex nursing needs. This ensures we can provide the right support to those most in need at this stage of their illness.
To discuss a referral or find out more, call 01228 608942.
