Carers Afternoon Cream Tea and Carer Stories

On a lovely sunny afternoon of Thursday, 20 June we held our annual carers’ Cream Tea in The Orange Cafe which was well attended by carers and their guests.

Some light-hearted moments were had through a foodie quiz and a raffle. Everyone had something to take home in the form of a little table gift bag.

Some cream teas were delivered to families visiting their relatives on the ward, which they greatly appreciated as they could not leave their loved one to attend.

As always, a variety of carers in different situations attended the afternoon tea. This included some of the families that I am working with.

Angela and her husband are a retired couple, and she has been caring for him for the past couple of years. He has several health problems including a cancer diagnosis. Like many carers Angela has felt overwhelmed and isolated in her caring role at times. Coming to the afternoon cream tea enabled Angela to bond with the other carers on her table and feel supported as they chatted over tea.

Tracey, who cares for her son with Huntingdon’s Chorea, also attended. She said that it gave her a welcome break just to sit down, have time to eat and be waited on.  This is something that rarely happens in Tracey’s life, as her caring role is full on, what with managing the carers for her son, sorting out his daily needs and running his home.

For Shelia, this opportunity to come to the hospice enabled her to get out and enjoy some time being the focus of attention. She cares for her father with MND and her mother who has dementia, and she never has the time to look after her own needs and has been trapped in the house caring for both parents for some time.

The benefit to our carers of this event can be summed up in the words of one carer who attended. “ I have spent the last few weeks crying. But this has really uplifted me and given me what I need.”

I would also like to say a big thank you to Jenna and the kitchen staff for the support they gave us with running this event and making it possible.