Supporting unpaid carers caring for friends and family with palliative and life limiting illnesses- reflections on starting a support group

Offering services that promote unpaid carer wellbeing whilst supporting them to provide care for their friends and relatives is an important area for palliative care services to consider as these unpaid carers are relied upon by health and social care services to support friends and family with palliative and life limiting illnesses. Use of a collaborative multi-professional evidence-based approach was beneficial in the development of a specific support group for these unpaid carers which focuses on peer support and provision of accurate timely information. The impact of creating a space for peer conversation and sharing of accurate information - centred on the practical skills carers have learnt and the emotions they experience as they support a loved one towards death has been noticeable.