6 October 2025
More in
Debbie’s story
Hospice Care Week 2025: Hospice Care is More Than You Think
At the Ayrshire Hospice, much of our care takes place beyond our walls – through our Community Nursing, Respite and Response (R&R), and Family Support teams who walk alongside patients and families wherever they are. Stacey, one of our Specialist Palliative Care Nurses, recently shared her experience supporting Debbie and her family. Their story reflects the true meaning of this year’s theme.
Debbie*, aged 42, was referred to the Ayrshire Hospice Community team by her GP, who had been struggling to manage her pain caused by breast cancer that had metastasized to her bones. Despite her diagnosis, Debbie was determined to continue working part-time as a teacher, but her pain was increasingly interfering with both her professional life and her ability to spend meaningful time with her children.
When Stacey from the community team first reached out to Debbie, she expressed concern about being seen receiving hospice care at home, fearing judgment from her neighbours. To respect her wishes, Stacey arranged their initial meetings at the GP surgery. As trust grew, Debbie became more comfortable with home visits, allowing Stacey to meet her two young children, aged 6 and 8.
Working closely with Debbie’s GP, Stacey helped bring her pain under control, enabling Debbie to enjoy more activities with her children – including a cherished long weekend away as a family. Stacey also connected the family with the hospice’s family care team, and a children’s counsellor began supporting Debbie’s children at school.
As Debbie’s condition worsened, she had to stop working and could no longer manage her personal care. Stacey referred her to the R&R team, who provided planned respite care. This gave Debbie’s husband time to focus on the children and other responsibilities. Debbie shared that she appreciated the companionship of the R&R team and enjoyed their friendly chats.
Stacey continued her visits, helping to manage Debbie’s increasing pain and nausea, while also discussing her future wishes and priorities. Debbie expressed a strong desire to die at home and emphasized that her children were her main focus. She wanted to create lasting memories for them, and with the help of the R&R team during respite visits, she crafted heartfelt keepsakes – notes and cards for future milestones, handprints, and photo albums.
In the following weeks, Debbie’s health declined further. One morning, her husband contacted Stacey, concerned about Debbie’s agitation. During Stacey’s visit, Debbie confided that she feared frightening her children and had reconsidered her wish to die at home. She requested admission to the In-Patient Unit.
While in the unit, Debbie and her family were supported by the wider hospice team, and her symptoms were brought under control. She later expressed a renewed wish to return home, knowing her time was near. The team acted swiftly to facilitate this, with R&R continuing to assist with personal care. Stacey remained a steady presence, supporting the family throughout.
Debbie spent her final week at home, passing away peacefully with her husband by her side.
Her husband and children continue to receive ongoing support from the Ayrshire Hospice’s family care team.
Stacey’s Reflections
What do you wish more people understood about being a hospice nurse, especially the work that happens beyond the hospice building?
I wish more people understood that hospice care extends far beyond the walls of the hospice. Much of our work happens in the community, providing advice, support, and hands on care that allows patients to remain at home whenever possible. Our role is not only to manage complex symptoms, but also to help patients live as fully as they can, achieve personal goals, and maintain independence and dignity.
What makes you most proud of the care you and your team provide? (especially with the work outside the hospice building)
I am most proud of the privilege we have to enter people’s homes and care for them and their families at the end of life. Each encounter is unique, and we only get one chance to get it right for the patient, and for their loved ones. Supporting families through such personal and emotional experiences, while helping patients remain comfortable and maintain quality of life at home, is rewarding.
If you could tell the public one surprising thing about hospice care, what would it be?
One surprising aspect of hospice care is that it’s not just about end-of-life support. It is about helping patients continue to live meaningful lives. For example, we work to control pain and symptoms so a dad can attend his daughter’s wedding or provide complementary therapies to help patients manage discomfort and maintain wellbeing at home. Hospice care supports patients to achieve personal goals, enjoy life’s moments, and remain connected to their families and communities, even while facing serious illness.
Stacey’s story shows that hospice care is about far more than comfort in someone’s final days – it’s about life, choice, and dignity. It’s about helping people like Debbie stay where they feel most at peace, surrounded by the people and memories that matter most.
During Hospice Care Week 2025, we join hospices across the UK in celebrating the compassion, expertise, and dedication of all those who make this care possible – in homes, in the community, and within our hospice.
💜 Hospice care is more than you think.
* Name changed to protect privacy
