NFU Mutual Agents and their staff at the Pembrokeshire agency recently nominated local charity Paul Sartori Foundation to receive a donation of more than £3,200 from NFU Mutual’s national £1.92 million ‘Agency Giving Fund’.

The leading rural insurer has launched this fund, now in its fourth year, to help local frontline charities across the country. The Agency Giving Fund forms part of NFU Mutual’s £3.25 million funding pledge for both local and national charities in 2023, to assist with recovery from the pandemic and to help tackle the impact of the rising cost of living.

The donation will enable the charity to deliver much-needed daytime care to support those living with Dementia in Pembrokeshire. There is very limited support locally with daytime respite for dementia patients which can put a great strain on families.

This donation will make a big difference during the day – enabling the family member to address their own care needs, attend appointments, catch up with friends, enjoy their hobbies or just rest. They will have peace of mind knowing that their loved one is professionally looked after by a responsive team. Paul Sartori staff are experienced and trained in this complex medical condition and will be able to provide respite support to ensure the patient is cared for and the family member is emotionally supported.

Although Dementia was not recognised until recently as something you can die of. According to the Office for National Statistics, Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease was recorded as one of the leading causes of death in Wales in April 2023. The Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Clinical Staff team are aware of the difference supporting those living with Dementia and the impact on families. The team recently trialled a 12-week dementia support pilot project funded via Hywel Dda University Health Board (approved by the Dementia Steering Group and Welsh Government) where night respite was delivered to 11 patients at home. This was well received by families who commented that staff were very good, supportive and kind.

“This new funding has come at a good time after the initial trial, where we recognised a need for daytime support. We know the difference this care will make to local families supporting a relative with dementia at home. It can be exhausting. Quite often they cannot leave their loved one unattended and they get very little time to themselves, which can have a great impact on the family carer. This project will increase the resilience of the family carer and support the patient in a familiar environment where they feel comfortable and secure,” said Lynn Hunter, Paul Sartori Hospice at Home Registered Nurse.

The award will fund 74 hours of daytime respite for those families who are struggling; will enable the charity to gather more evidence from its local community and hopefully continue to try and support this valued development. “We were delighted to hear that the NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund has supported this much-needed provision. This project will enable us to build a case and hopefully enable us to secure additional funding in the future,” said Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer at Paul Sartori Hospice at Home.

Photograph (above) Left to right: Neil Davies, NFU Agent, Judith Williams, Grant Development Officer and Lynn Hunter, Registered Nurse from Paul Sartori Hospice at Home and Cara Norman, NFU Agent.

Neil Davies, at NFU’s Mutual’s Pembrokeshire Agency, said “We’re extremely proud to have nominated Paul Sartori Foundation for this donation and are delighted to be able to support the vital contribution they make to our community. NFU Mutual’s Agency Giving Fund was first created in 2020 in response to the pandemic, and this ongoing support is helping to change lives, providing both emergency support and building long-term resilience.”

The Paul Sartori clinical team play an important part in supporting end of life patients and their families, which also enhances the provision of other local limited services. With their flexible and rapid approach, they support the patient’s wish to be cared for in their own home. They offer a patient-centred approach to care – assessing patients, referring to other internal services, work closely with other healthcare providers and are available as advisors. They provide a wide range of other services, including home nursing care, 24-hour support, standby service, complementary therapy, bereavement and counselling support, physiotherapy, future care planning and training. These services enable people in the later stages of any life limiting illness to be cared for and to die at home with dignity, independence, pain free and surrounded by those they hold most dear if that is their wish. Further information on the charity and its services can be obtained by visiting their website www.paulsartori.org or by phoning 01437 763223.

Read more Paul Sartori News here

Find out more about NFU Mutual – Haverfordwest here