Laura is in her early 30s and living with Stage 4 Secondary Breast Cancer. Her teenage daughter Millie is her ‘mini me’ as Laura calls her and are supported by Strathcarron’s Live your Life team for emotional and practical support, including making cherished memories. Read more
We all feel lonely at times – it’s a natural human emotion. We're biologically wired for social contact, and loneliness is our signal that we need more. Evelyn and Nancy share their story of connection fostered through Strathcarron's services. Read more
This short film by Kirsten as she fondly remembers her Mum, Eleanor's fun sense of humour and laughter that she and her family were able to share together in the Hospice, right up to the end. Touched by the care and support, Kirsten wanted to give something back to Strathcarron and has kindly fundraised and volunteered for us to help others. Read more
In this video, Rupert shared his wife Jo's Hospice experience. She died of lung cancer aged just 39. The couple had two young children aged 5 and 8 years old when their Mum died. Their youngest was only weeks from starting primary one at school. Rupert has very kindly shared his family’s story with us, including their trepidations about what Hospice care would look like…and their comforting experience of what being in the care of Strathcarron actually turned out to be. Read more
Emma was a full time carer for her mum Sheila for 20 years before she was diagnosed with cancer and was admitted to the Hospice in early 2024. Sheila died with Emma alongside her holding her hand in her final moments. Emma attended her first Snowdrop Café on her birthday and she now enjoys meeting newly found friends there for a cuppa and a chat every week. She now feels part of her community and says it has helped give her a weekly focus and routine to look forward to. Read more
Richard was in Strathcarron for 10 days on his first visit; receiving pain management. He was happy to go to the Hospice, to meet the staff and get to know the place, just in case he needed to go back in again at end of life. The nurses and consultants explained everything to us, we felt like we could ask any question, it was so reassuring. His wife Jill tells their story for Hospice Care Week. Read more
25th September 2023, was the first anniversary of the death of Elizabeth Coupe, mother to Emma and Christopher and wife to Peter Coupe. Elizabeth was 70 years old and had lived with MND for 18 months. She was supported at home by Creative Homecare before she died peacefully, in Strathcarron Hospice, which is where she wanted to be. Read more
What do Strathcarron Compassionate communities do? They connect people. Their work in community development is a natural and logistical extension to what we do. Supporting people to have as good a life as possible until the very end, & to have as good a death as possible. Normalising death & dying & early involvement with palliative care improves lives. Jim has a progressive spinal condition, paralysed from the knee down. He's struggled with his mental & physical health. Read his story Read more
Can a student placement learn much in 5 weeks at Strathcarron? Alannah joined our Rehab Team on a Student placement. She told us she hoped to have the opportunity to observe and learn, noting that she felt a ‘little scared’ about the thought of coming into the Hospice and working with people at the end of their lives. Read more about how much Alannah, as a physiotherapy student learned in her short time at Strathcarron. Read more
"Nobody prepares you for it (grief), nobody trains you for it. I felt in a daze. You’re going through the motions". Read more
Many people in their final days of life prefer to be at home with those who are important to them, if at all possible. Our service aims to provide practical and emotional support at this crucial time in people's lives, to enable them to stay at home, right to the end. Read more
June is National Lipoedema Month, so a good opportunity to raise awareness of this chronic condition. Antonia is a Lipoedema patient here at Strathcarron; keen to raise awareness of the condition, she has kindly agreed to share her story. Read more