Compassionate Palliative & End-of-Life Care at Home
Dignified, gentle care in familiar surroundings. Our experienced team supports people at the end of their life to remain comfortable at home, surrounded by loved ones, with compassion and respect across Market Harborough and Leicestershire.
Staying at Home for End-of-Life Care
When someone you love is nearing the end of their life, the most precious gift you can offer is allowing them to remain in familiar surroundings, comfortable and surrounded by family. Many people express a clear wish to die at home rather than in hospital, and with the right support, this can be a peaceful, dignified choice.
Xcel Homes provides compassionate palliative and end-of-life care at home across Market Harborough and Leicestershire, working alongside NHS community teams, GPs, district nurses and hospices to ensure your loved one receives excellent symptom management and comfort care in their final weeks and days.
Our experienced carers understand the unique needs of people at the end of life. They provide gentle personal care, help manage pain and symptoms (following clinical guidance), support with eating and drinking, repositioning for comfort, and simply provide a calm, reassuring presence during this profound time.
Just as importantly, we support families too – emotionally, practically and by giving you precious time to simply be present with your loved one as a family member, not a carer. You shouldn't have to face this journey alone.
Care Options
Visiting care or 24-hour live-in support
Working With
NHS, hospices, GPs, district nurses
Focus
Comfort, dignity, pain relief, family support
Available
Day, night and 24/7 care
What Does Palliative & End-of-Life Care Include?
Our palliative care at home focuses on comfort, dignity and quality of life during this precious time:
Comfort & Personal Care
- Gentle personal hygiene support
- Comfortable positioning and repositioning
- Skin care and pressure area prevention
- Mouth care and oral comfort
- Support with continence needs
- Maintaining dignity in all care
Pain & Symptom Management
- Administering prescribed medication
- Monitoring comfort levels
- Reporting symptoms to clinical teams
- Supporting with breathlessness
- Managing nausea or discomfort
- Following palliative care plans
Nutrition & Hydration
- Support with eating and drinking
- Small, appealing meals as desired
- Mouth care and sips of water
- No pressure to eat if appetite declines
- Respecting wishes and preferences
- Ice chips or comfort foods
Emotional & Spiritual Support
- Calm, gentle presence
- Emotional reassurance for patient
- Supporting families through grief
- Respecting cultural and spiritual wishes
- Creating peaceful atmosphere
- Being present with compassion
Practical Support
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry and bed changes
- Maintaining calm, clean environment
- Coordinating with healthcare teams
- Liaising with hospice services
- Supporting funeral planning if requested
Family Support
- Respite for family members
- Emotional support during difficult decisions
- Practical advice and guidance
- Being there alongside families
- Supporting after death has occurred
- Bereavement signposting
Our Compassionate Approach
Caring for someone at the end of life requires special skills, sensitivity and humanity. Our approach centers on:
Dignity Always
Every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, right to the very end. We preserve dignity in every interaction, every care task, every moment.
Comfort First
Our priority is keeping your loved one comfortable and pain-free. We work closely with clinical teams to manage symptoms and ensure physical comfort.
Respect Wishes
We honor your loved one's wishes about their care, treatment, where they want to be, who they want present, and how they spend their final days.
Family-Centered
We support the whole family, not just the patient. This is a family journey, and we're here to help you through it together.
Cultural Sensitivity
We respect cultural, religious and spiritual beliefs, adapting our care to honor what matters to your loved one and your family.
Peaceful Presence
Sometimes the most important thing we offer is simply being there – a calm, experienced presence during an emotionally difficult time.
Working Alongside NHS & Hospice Teams
End-of-life care at home works best when everyone works together. We coordinate closely with the healthcare professionals already supporting your loved one:
GP & Community Teams
We liaise with your GP and community palliative care teams, following their clinical guidance and reporting any changes in symptoms or comfort.
District Nurses
We work alongside district nurses who provide clinical care, wound care and medication support, complementing their visits with continuous care presence.
Hospice Services
We coordinate with local hospices (LOROS, Rainbows, etc.) who provide specialist palliative advice, equipment and support to families.
Hospital Discharge
We facilitate hospital discharge for end-of-life care at home, setting up care quickly so your loved one can come home peacefully.
Our carers don't replace clinical care – they work alongside healthcare professionals to provide the constant care presence, companionship and practical support that enables someone to remain comfortably at home. We're part of the team around your loved one.
Flexible End-of-Life Care Options
We provide palliative care in various formats depending on needs and how much support is required:
Visiting Palliative Care
Duration
1-4 hours per visit, multiple daily visits
Suitable For
Early palliative care, some independence maintained, family present at other times
Includes
Personal care, medication support, companionship, meals, symptom monitoring, family respite
From £25 per hour
Extended Daily Care
Duration
8-12 hours continuous presence
Suitable For
Increasing care needs, family working or needing rest, daytime or nighttime support
Includes
All care needs throughout shift, constant presence, symptom management, family support
From £200 per day
24-Hour Live-In Care
Duration
Round-the-clock care presence
Suitable For
Final weeks/days of life, complex symptom management, family wanting to focus on being present
Includes
Continuous care day and night, immediate response to needs, family support, peaceful presence
From £900-£1,400 per week
Many families start with visiting care and increase to 24-hour support as needs change. We adapt quickly – if your loved one's condition declines and you need more support, we can increase care within 24 hours.
Supporting Families Through This Journey
Caring for someone at the end of their life is emotionally and physically exhausting. Our care isn't just for the patient – it's for the whole family:
Practical Relief
Taking over care tasks so you can simply be a daughter, son, husband, wife or friend rather than a carer during precious final time together.
Emotional Support
Providing understanding, compassion and someone to talk to who understands what you're going through without judgment.
Respite & Rest
Giving family members time to sleep, eat properly, attend to other commitments, or simply step away briefly when it becomes overwhelming.
Guidance & Advice
Helping you understand what to expect, what's normal at end of life, and how to support your loved one through this process.
After-Death Support
Staying with you after death occurs, helping with immediate practical steps, and providing emotional support in those first difficult hours.
Bereavement Resources
Connecting you with bereavement services, counseling, and support groups to help you through grief after your loved one passes.
Many families tell us that having professional support at home allowed them to cherish final conversations, share memories, hold hands and simply be present with their loved one – rather than being exhausted from physical care tasks. This is precious time you can't get back.
What Families Say About Our End-of-Life Care
These families trusted us during one of life's most difficult experiences:
"Dad wanted to die at home, not in hospital. Xcel arranged a live-in carer within 48 hours of him leaving hospital. The carer, Sarah, was an absolute angel – so gentle with Dad, so patient, and she supported our whole family through those final two weeks. She helped us understand what was happening, reassured us when we panicked, and gave Dad such dignified, loving care. Because of Sarah, Dad died peacefully at home with all of us around him, exactly as he'd wished. We'll never forget her kindness."
Jennifer M.
Daughter, Market Harborough
"Mum had terminal cancer and was determined to stay at home. Xcel's carers visited three times a day in her final month, then moved to 24-hour care in the last week. They worked beautifully with the district nurses and hospice team. Mum was comfortable, pain-free and surrounded by love. The carers supported us too – made endless cups of tea, hugged us when we cried, and helped with all the practical things we couldn't think about. After Mum passed, they stayed with us, helped us contact the GP, and made sure we were okay before leaving. Exceptional, compassionate care."
David and Helen T.
Son and Daughter, Leicester
Funding End-of-Life Care at Home
NHS Continuing Healthcare
Many people in the last months of life qualify for fully funded NHS Continuing Healthcare, which can cover all care costs including 24-hour support.
Fast-track CHC available for end-of-life
We can support urgent CHC applications
Hospice Funding Support
Local hospices (LOROS, Rainbows) sometimes provide funding or subsidized support for end-of-life care at home.
Referred through hospice teams
Speak to your hospice coordinator
Marie Curie Nursing
Marie Curie provides funded night nursing for people in final stages of terminal illness, which can work alongside our care.
Terminal illness, limited time left
Request Marie Curie support through your district nurse
Private Self-Funding
For those funding care privately, we provide transparent pricing and work sensitively with families during this difficult financial time.
From £25/hour or £900-£1,400/week live-in
Many families don't realize NHS Continuing Healthcare funding is available for end-of-life care. We can support you with urgent fast-track CHC applications, which are often approved within days for people in their final weeks. Don't let cost concerns prevent your loved one from dying peacefully at home.
CQC-Registered Palliative Care Provider
Xcel Homes Ltd is registered with the Care Quality Commission for personal care services, including palliative and end-of-life care. Our carers receive specific training in end-of-life care, symptom management and supporting bereaved families.
Questions About End-of-Life Care at Home
We're Here to Support You
If your loved one has expressed a wish to die at home, or you're considering palliative care support, our compassionate team is here to discuss your situation with sensitivity and without pressure.
Address
Xcel Homes Ltd
Kettering Road, Market Harborough
Leicestershire, LE16 8AN
