We’re delighted to continue our support of the Donna Louise Hospice with a donation of £41,000 to fund a nurse for their new young adult hospice.
The Donna Louise has always provided care to children from birth to 19, after which time, they would be discharged from their care and forced to look for age-appropriate services, which don’t currently exist in the area.
Director of Care, Dot Gillespie, explains, “There’s a misconception that they just go to an adult hospice, but they have a very different care model. We support families and help them live with their conditions. We do end of life, but it’s a small part of what we do. Someone could be discharged from our service at 19 and yet not need end of life care until they’re 24 or 25, so who cares for them in between? This is the gap we’re trying to meet.”
The Donna Louise has made the decision to provide a new purpose-built unit to be able to continue caring for our young adults. When it opens in Spring 2019, they will have access to a unique facility designed to meet their specific needs, and care delivered by professionals who have knowledge of their complex conditions and the implications for their daily lives.
Emma Whitehurst, Trusts and Grants Manager, said “We are extremely grateful to everybody at the Foundation for their continued support. This grant, to fund a specialist nurse, will help our young adults get the care they deserve and live the lives they hope for. Thank you so very much.”