Cuddle Bed Will Bring Hospice Patients Closer To Loved Ones When It Matters Most

A brand-new cuddle bed that will help patients receiving end-of-life care to be closer to their loved ones has arrived at North Devon Hospice.

The cuddle bed, which was kindly funded by Tesco Groundworks, Portmore Golf Club, and hospice supporter Roy Smale, has several specialist features that will enable people staying on the hospice’s Bedded Unit to be more comfortable while enjoying precious moments of physical affection with family and friends. These include an extendable base (to allow more than one person on the bed), attachable mattress cushions, slow-release side rails, multicoloured nightlights, and falls risk safety features among others.

“When a patient is admitted to the hospice for end-of-life care, we often see them and their loved ones trying to remain as close as they can for as long as they can,” said Hannah Crawley, Clinical Team Lead at North Devon Hospice. “However, for family or friends, this often means settling for holding hands or sleeping on a bed next to the patient’s bed with a small gap in between. Thanks to the addition of this wonderful new cuddle bed, we can now bring patients and families closer together and help them savour special moments that will mean so much.”

North Devon Hospice provides care for local people who are affected by cancer and other life-limiting illnesses. As well as offering support at home, patients can also be admitted to their Bedded Unit when symptoms become more severe, for help with pain management and to make them feel as comfortable as possible when they need it most.

Last summer, the hospice’s Bedded Unit underwent a grant-funded refurbishment to make it feel like even more of a home-from-home for people needing round-the-clock care. Rachel Parkin, Trusts and Grants Fundraiser at North Devon Hospice, explained how the addition of the cuddle bed will help to instil this further. “When someone is admitted to the hospice for end-of-life care, physical touch becomes more important than ever, but this isn’t always possible in a traditionally clinical setting,” said Rachel. “Whether it’s a husband and wife, mother and daughter, grandfather and grandson, having this oversized bed will allow anyone wishing to share a meaningful embrace the chance to whilst being safe and comfortable, something that is so important to those we care for.”