"I was terrified at first when they said they would discharge him home – I didn’t think I could cope. But in looking after Peter dying at home, I felt I was fulfilling his wishes and we were a real family – this really helps me now. Our GPs and district nurses were really caring and professional and kept pace with us at each step – we felt so grateful to them. Although it was so sad, it was also in some ways a very good and satisfying experience, etched forever on our minds. The children and I are so glad that we were able to look after him at home, where he wanted to be, with the help of our marvellous team"

(Taken from Caring For the Dying at Home, (2003, p28)

Being a carer is something you want to do to the best of your ability, that is why it is important that you know and utilise the support available to you.

Why you have made the decision to look after someone at home may be down to a variety of reasons such as wanting to spend as much quality time with that person in a home environment before they die, fulfilling their wish to be at home, or trying to create as 'normal' a routine as possible for other younger family members which can be difficult when daily trips to the hospital are required.

District or community nurses are skilled in providing nursing care and support both to patients and carers at home. They coordinate care and arrange other healthcare professionals that may be required at various stages of home care. She/he can also arrange for an assessment of any equipment, which would make it easier to care for someone at home. A district or community nurse’s visit can be arranged through your GP surgery.

There are also a number of specialist care teams that the district nurse will liaise with for support and advice:

• Hospice Palliative care Nurse
• Community Palliative care Nurse Specialist
• Marie Curie Nurse 
• Macmillan Nurse
• Community Palliative care Team, a multidisciplinary team made up of a nurse, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian, social worker and a speech & language therapist.

These teams provide expertise in assessment and treatment of physical symptoms as well as emotional and social support for both the person you are caring for, yourself and family.

Sometimes it is nice to be assured by the presence of a qualified nurse when you need to take a break or rest, Marie Curie Nurses and Hospice at Home nurses provide practical nursing care in your own home, available throughout the day and overnight. Your district or community nurse can help you accessed these services.

You may also find it helpful to contact a carer support organisation that can provide emotional and practical support more details of which can be found in "Who else can provide help and support" section.