Cake and Care delivery

Bondholder Treetops Hospice Care is continuing to support its most vulnerable patients despite having suspended all its weekday Wellbeing Services several weeks ago.

With the Treetops kitchen staff no longer preparing meals on site for patients, the kitchen has been turned into a cake-making enterprise, producing tasty homemade treats every day. A team of Treetops staff and volunteers distribute these along with messages of support, craft activities, puzzles and other useful resources.

Explaining the Cake and Care initiative, Alison Jorda, Treetops senior staff nurse, said: “It is vital for us to support our most vulnerable patients during these challenging times. We want to lift people’s moods, allow them to enjoy a treat and get some distraction from the terrible situation we find ourselves in today with the COVID 19 pandemic.

“We know we’re a very important part of people’s lives and we want to reach out so our patients know we are still here for them, albeit in a different way from the services we normally provide.”

Betty, from Kirkhallam, is one of over seventy Treetops patients who are self-isolating due to the growing Coronavirus pandemic. Living alone, with a life-limiting condition, Betty is unable to venture out herself, so the Cake and Care delivery is just one way she can maintain contact with the outside world. She said: “I couldn't put in to words how delighted I was as I pulled each item out of the bag. It was like being a child on Christmas morning.”

Treetops is doing all it can to continue to support those in most need. However the charity predicts a huge £1.4m loss in income in the coming months, due to the temporary closure of all its charity shops, and postponement or cancellation of many fundraising events.

An Emergency Appeal has been launched and the hospice is asking for donations to ensure it can continue to provide Hospice at Home end-of-life nursing care throughout the pandemic. Donations can be made here.