Sue Ryder

Sue Ryder provides incredible care for people with life-changing illness. Whether it’s bringing comfort to someone’s final days or enabling them to make the most of their life, we are here for them and their loved ones

We treat everyone in our care as an individual, taking the time to see the person not the condition. We enable people to live the life they want, and do everything we can to ensure their time with us is the best it can be; whether that involves managing pain or enabling them to engage with activities they thought they could never do again. We do this in our hospices, in our neurological care centres, in the community and in people’s homes

1 in 4 of us are living with a life changing illness that needs specialist care. That’s 18 million people in the UK today. We all hope this won’t touch us personally. But the sad reality is that one day it could. An ageing population and hard-hitting government cuts means that we need your support more than ever

Whatever the illness, be it cancer, brain injury or Parkinson’s or Huntington’s disease, our aim remains the same. Not just to provide specialist medical care to ease pain and discomfort, but also to offer people and their families real emotional support that can help with the difficult and often distressing effects of these illnesses

We treat everyone in our care as an individual, taking the time to see the person not the condition. We provide the flexibility and freedom people need to make choices about the way they live. And when the time comes, the way they die

Personalised care demands specialist knowledge of the conditions we treat and a great deal of nursing time. But care like ours comes at a price which is becoming increasingly difficult to afford. An ageing population and hard-hitting government cuts mean that we need your support more than ever to continue to deliver incredible care

• We care for over 16,000 people every year at our hospices, care centres and in the community. And provide much-needed emotional support for over 2,000 family members
• We care for almost 2,000 people living with long-term neurological illnesses every year
• We care for over 14,000 people every year living with end of life needs
• We are supported by over 3,000 paid staff and over 11,000 volunteers

Sue Ryder also provides care in Malawi and Albania. Every year thousands of people are provided with healthcare and support they wouldn’t otherwise receive.We support people in many different ways:

• We offer a wide range of services so that people can have choice and control over where and how they receive their care
• Our hospices offer in-patient facilities, day services, therapeutic recreational activities, respite care, outpatient clinics that help relieve painful symptoms and care in people’s homes
• Our neurological care centres offer residential services, day care, respite care, supported living and support in the community and in people’s homes
• We know that most people would prefer to live in their own homes for as long as possible*; independently and with family and friends close by. That’s why we’re providing more end of life and long-term neurological care for people in their own homes
• We support the whole family. The effects of life-changing illnesses can be hugely difficult and distressing for both the person and their family. We provide much-needed emotional and practical support for the whole family through counselling, carer support groups, bereavement sup¬port and specialist support for children. This support can help people cope with loss, and deal with frightening emotions including depression, anger and guilt. And, it can enable carers to have some vital time for themselves and a support network to lean on when needed
• We’re specialists. Our specialist doctors, nurses and carers are extraordinarily well equipped to care for people living with life-changing illnesses; ensuring they feel totally supported at a time when they are often at their most vulnerable. They also provide expert advice and education for people, their families and other health and social care providers
• End of life. Our hospices are beacons of excellence in providing holistic and personalised end of life care. Our care is not just about pain management. It’s also about providing a listening ear and emotional support for people and their families. This quality time and support is what makes all the difference, and is a world away from treatment in hospital environments where the time and attention is simply not available
• Helping people to die with dignity.Quality end of life care is about putting the person and their families first. Listening and spending time with an individual to find out how they want to live their last few years, months or moments of life. We treat every individual as a living person rather than a dying patient
• Neurological care. We care for people with very complex neurological conditions. These types of illness bring complex physical and medical challenges which require specialist understanding and equipment to support living. In addition, they can bring a huge emotional strain to both the individual and their family. Our specialist doctors, nurses and carers are extraordinarily well equipped to care for people with these conditions; enabling people to live well despite their debilitating and progressive illness

To find more about our work please visit www.sueryder.org