Marie Curie support line is open to care home staff struggling during pandemic

Responding to news from the Laura Hyde Foundation that care home staff are increasingly struggling with mental health problems and feeling burnt out, anxious and guilty as they work through the coronavirus pandemic.

 

Simon Jones, the Director of Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, said: “As the UK’s largest charitable provider of palliative care, we are acutely aware of the unprecedented stresses care home staff have had to face with the tragic and untimely loss of so many elderly people in their care.  There are many stories of how caring and dedicated care home staff have been, including living in the homes themselves through the worst of the pandemic.  However, care homes and their staff are just not equipped to manage death on this scale.

 

“We too fear that our frontline staff, exhausted both physically and emotionally from the initial COVID-19 outbreak, will potentially have to care for a second wave of patients and support another wave of bereaved families who may well, again feel that their loved one has died too soon.

 

“Our Marie Curie Free Support Line has been expanded in response to this crisis and is available for anyone to call for help, practical information and emotional support regarding end of life and terminal illness. Our Support Line team can provide trusted information on everything from staying safe and well in isolation, to planning ahead and emotional support when you just need to talk. 

 

“The impact on care home staff that this crisis is causing must be addressed urgently and appropriate support made available if they are going to be able to meet the ongoing demands imposed by COVID19 and the needs of our ageing population in the years to come.”