Caring for Carers

Star rating: 4/5.

Help the Hospices. Tel 020 7520 8220 
ISBN 1871978408, free

While nothing can ever take away the anxieties and sadness of caring for a loved one, this pack will help allay those fears and anxieties and bring comfort through knowledge that carers are not alone, writes Lydia Nevill.

It gives practical advice, coupled with information on symptoms and how to help. Carers are taken through stages of assistance they are likely to need, even after the death of the person they were caring for. It gives the right impression that carers can request help at their own pace, that there is a shoulder to cry on and a hug to provide encouragement, there is no right or wrong way, and each carer is valued.

The pack is a useful and informative resource for both hospice staff and carers. My only disappointment is that it fails to recognise different cultural needs, including information in various languages.

Lydia Nevill is an assistant team manager.