David’s Story

David from Stroud was sociable, creative, and immensely proud of his seven children. “He was our cheerleader and championed everything we did,” says Anna, one of his daughters.

When David became seriously ill and received a terminal diagnosis, he was determined to come home from hospital. “But we needed support in place to help care for Dad,” says Anna. “At home, we had no emergency medicine or palliative care doctors down the hall. It was quite daunting.”

When Longfield offered to help, Anna says the whole family breathed a sigh of relief. “The carers who visited three times each day really did care: we all felt it. They treated Dad as an individual with personality and pride, which was so important.”

On the night David died, an experienced Longfield nurse woke the family to say it wouldn’t be long. “We gathered around Dad’s bed and held hands with him and each other, surrounding him with our love,” she says. “Dad died at the centre of his family, right where he belonged.”