Types of care

At Helen & Douglas House we offer a wide variety of care for the children, young adults and their families using our service.

Respite Care
Respite care is where the child or young adult and their family can have a break from their normal routine, which is often exhausting. There are a number of options open to the family and we aim to be as flexible as possible. The most important thing is for families to feel comfortable with the arrangements.

Families can stay in one of the family flats and be near their child whilst having the support of the highly skilled care team. This means that the parents can get a good night's sleep knowing that a Care Team member will be there to take care of their child. As other brothers and sisters can stay too, for many parents this will be a rare occasion where the family can be together and actually relax.

Sometimes a child and young adult will come to Helen House or Douglas House on their own for a couple of days so that the family can have a break or spend some time with their other children. We ensure that the child or young adult in our care enjoys their stay as much as possible.

Sometimes a young adult will come to Douglas House on their own to have a break in their own right and develop some independence, away from their parents or carers.

Both houses put the emphasis on fun, relaxation and quality care. Each has a spa pool, music room, games room with computers and a multi-sensory room. We also have clinically qualified aromatherapists, a specialist teacher and music therapist.

Palliative Care
Palliative care is medical care that controls the symptoms of an illness, once there can be no cure, making the child or young adult's life as comfortable as possible.

The Association for Children with Life-threatening or Terminal Conditions and their Families (ACT) defines palliative care as follows:

"Palliative care for children and young people with life-limiting conditions is an active and total approach to care, embracing physical, emotional, social and spiritual elements.

It focuses on the quality of life for the child and support for the family and includes the management of distressing symptoms and the provision of respite and care through death and bereavement.

It is provided for children for whom curative treatment is no longer the main focus of care and may extend over many years."
A Guide to the Development of Children's Palliative Care Services 2003.

At Helen & Douglas House we understand the uniqueness of each child, young adult and their families or carers and we develop holistic and individually-tailored care plans based on their needs, which are continually assessed.

End of Life Care
End of life care is where the child or young adult is cared for as they die and the family receives support from Helen & Douglas House for as long as they may wish. In this way, we provide an alternative to the child or young adult dying at home or in hospital.

Even if a child or young adult dies who has not stayed previously at Helen House or Douglas House we may still be able to help the family. Please call us on 01865 794749 and ask to speak to the Helen House Care Team for a child or to the Douglas House Care Team for a young adult.