Home Care

Care in an individuals home or wider community is an important aspect of the hospice service.

What Specialist Care is available in the community?

The Co Donegal Home Care Service has been in existence since 1989.  There are now seven specialist nurses throughout the county with bases in Donegal Town, Dungloe, Inishowen, Killybegs and Letterkenny.  They work as part of the consultant led multidisciplinary team based at the Donegal Hospice. This team includes nurses, doctors, a pharmacist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist. With agreement of the GP, patients are assessed by the specialist team who will then draw up a plan of care. The specialist nurses will continue to visit as needed, working closely with the GP and PHN.

The therapists in the team have a vital role in helping patients to remain active and independent for as long as possible during their illness.

What do the specialist nurses do? (Top)

The role of the service is to provide information, advice and support to patients and families, helping them to understand and cope with their illness and to achieve the best possible quality of life. The nurse will give you time to discuss your concerns and to ask questions. Relief and prevention of distressing symptoms – by means of advice concerning medication use for example – is an important part of the role and is key to enabling patients to remain at home if that is their wish. The specialist nurses will ensure that the team therapists are involved whenever needed and can arrange for Hospice admission if necessary.

The specialist team does not take over from your own GP or PHN, but instead works alongside them as members of the caring team.

When is the service available? (Top)

The Home Care Specialist Nurses are currently available from 09:00 am to 5:30 pm, Monday to Friday

The Specialist Palliative Care Service, based at the Donegal Hospice in Knocknamona, Letterkenny is available for advice anytime, day or night. All queries will be dealt with by highly trained staff – either a nurse or a doctor – depending upon the need. This advice facility is available not only for patients and families, but also for health professionals such as hospital or community doctors and nurses, who are encouraged to use it freely.

Published February 11, 2018 / Last modified: September 23, 2018