Researchers ask: How does your community come together to care?

Researchers from the University of Western Sydney, HOME Hospice and Cancer Council NSW are asking for members of the community to share their experiences of caring for a loved one with a terminal illness.

Associate Professor Rosemary Leonard, from the Social Justice Social Change Research Group at UWS, says many people prefer to spend the last days and years of their life at home, surrounded by their friends and family.

"For their primary care-giver, this time can be immensely emotional and challenging, and would often not be possible without the support and assistance of those around them," says Associate Professor Leonard.

The aim of the 'Bringing our dying home: Creating community at end of life' study is to find out how communities rally together to help with the care-giving.

"We are asking for people to come forward, share their experiences, and tell us how important the support from their family, friends, neighbours and work colleagues has been," says Associate Professor Leonard.

If you have cared for someone with a terminal illness at home and are interested in sharing your experiences, please contact Research Coordinator Kerrie Noonan on 0439 040 499 or Debbie Horsfall on (02) 4736 0093 or d.horsfall(at)uws.edu.au

Provided by University of Western Sydney