‘Reaching the Forgotten’: Join a one-day conference to help address the inequality of care for homeless people across the UK
Did you know that the average life expectancy for men and women who are homeless is 45.9 and 41.6 years of age respectively?
With very little or no access to health and social care, research confirms that homeless people are at a significantly increased risk of dying younger and experiencing poor or non-existent end of life care.
For the first time, St Christopher’s Centre for Awareness and Response to End of Life (St Christopher’s CARE) is hosting a one-day conference to address this inequality, which will focus on the challenges and opportunities involved in providing compassionate, integrated and comprehensive support for homeless people who have palliative care needs.
Taking place on Thursday 22 September 2022, the ‘Reaching the Forgotten’ conference will include talks from a broad range of expert voices including:
Dr Caroline Shulman, Co-Clinical lead for the Homeless Health Programme at Healthy London Partnership and Pathway Clinical Research Fellow at UCL
Dr Adi Cooper OBE, Visiting Professor of the University of Bedfordshire; and
Denell Dema, Service Manager at Evolve Housing and Support.
During the day, attendees will meet and connect with peers who share a commitment to supporting those who are homeless on a local and national scale, and gain a wider appreciation for the scale and diversity of programmes and individuals who provide health and social care to homeless people.
There will be opportunities to understand more about how related issues such as substance abuse, mental illness and trauma can increase the chance of dying young and/or experiencing a “poor death”; and by the end of the day, attendees can expect to have helped co-produce a range of solutions that consider both the roots and consequences of homeless people’s exclusion from end of life care.
‘Reaching the Forgotten’ will be of interest to all professionals from the health and social care and housing sectors, as well as charity and voluntary workers who might recognise the inequalities suffered by homeless people and wish to redress them.
We are keen to hear a broad range of perspectives and ideas, and we also welcome anyone who carries a burden for people who are homeless, or who might find themselves similarly disadvantaged whilst living and dying from a serious condition.
Until 6 September the conference fee is just £99, and it is highly recommended to sign up quickly as places are expected to sell out fast. After the Early Bird offer ends, the fee will be £150. To find out more and register your attendance, please visit the St Christopher’s CARE website here.
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About St Christopher’s Hospice
- We were founded by Dame Cicely Saunders, who started the global hospice movement with the opening of St Christopher’s in 1967.
- We are a charity, and we provide care and services free of charge. Though we are partially funded by the NHS, the majority of our running costs are very generously met by public donations. Each year, we need to raise at least £15million.
- Our vision is of a world in which all dying people and those close to them have access to care and support, whenever and wherever they need it.
- Our goal is to help people live well until they die, and support those affected by the loss of a friend or relative. We know that each person is unique and we tailor our care to meet social, emotional and spiritual needs, as well as manage physical symptoms.
- We strongly believe that everyone should have access to the best care at the end of their lives and through a blend of expert practice, education and research we work with people across the world to improve and develop hospice care.
- We usually have over 1,300 people under our care at any one time, and last year we provided care and support to over 5,000 patients and 2,000 families and carers across South London, both at home, out in the community and in the hospice.
- We have over 500 dedicated staff and over 1,000 amazing volunteers.
- You can support the hospice by donating, volunteering or shopping at one of our 26 local high street shops.
- You can find our website by searching “stchristophers.org.uk” online, and we are also on social media – search @StChrisHospice on Twitter and Instagram.
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