A Derbyshire family has shared how Treetops Hospice nurses transformed the final months of their father’s life, providing compassionate care at home and giving them precious time together.
Former Ilkeston fireman Terry Burnham was able to remain in the place he felt safest, surrounded by loved ones, thanks to the charity’s Hospice at Home service.
When Terry was diagnosed with vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, life changed overnight for the whole family and the months that followed were filled with uncertainty and sleepless nights.
As Terry’s needs increased, Treetops Hospice stepped in to support the family through an incredibly difficult period.
Treetops is a non-bedded hospice providing specialist end-of-life nursing care across southern and central Derbyshire. Its Hospice at Home nurses deliver expert support in the comfort and familiarity of people’s own homes – something that made a profound difference to Terry and his family.
Alongside Hospice at Home, the charity also offers wellbeing support, counselling and a range of bereavement services from its site in Risley.
Mark, Terry’s son, remembers when they first learned Treetops could help. He said: “When we found out Treetops could come and care for dad, we thought it might be a case of nurses coming and just sitting with him for an hour here and there, but we quickly realised that it was far, far more than that.
“I can’t describe the enormity of what Treetops does for the bigger picture – having them around gave our family the reassurance and breathing space we needed to focus on one another and on our own day-to-day responsibilities.”
Terry was, in Mark’s words, a “true family man” and “the most amazing dad you could ever ask for”. Growing up, Mark’s friends would often tell him that if they could choose any dad, they would choose Terry. After being best man at his friend Clive’s wedding, Terry was described as “the man who typifies the term ‘best man’”.
Terry spent over 20 years serving as a fireman at Ilkeston Fire Station. Mark later followed in his footsteps, becoming a fireman himself and eventually serving at the very same station before retiring, bringing their shared journey full circle.
As Terry’s illness progressed, the Treetops nurses grew to become an extension of the Burnham family. Their familiar presence brought comfort to Terry, who often felt distressed and confused, and reassurance to those who loved him.
Mark said: “The biggest compliment I can pay to Treetops is how naturally their visits became part of our lives. It wasn’t the nurse from Treetops anymore – it was Rachel, it was Jackie, it was Yvonne. We knew them all, and they became a part of our family rather than the external strangers we had imagined.”
To meet Terry’s needs, Treetops’ roaming nurses came over when his nighttime distress had become difficult for Mark, his mum, and his sister Lindsey to manage alone.
“What people don’t realise until they’ve lived through something like this is just how much care like Treetops’ can lift the whole family.
“For us, it meant proper sleep at home, knowing mum was resting too and that dad was safe. It meant our families got a better version of us, because we weren’t running on empty or completely burnt out.”
This support also allowed Terry’s wife of 60 years, Lyn, to step back from the role of full-time carer and simply be his wife again, giving them the chance to share meaningful time together.
As Terry approached the end of his life, the Treetops nurses guided the family through each step, helping them understand what was normal and what to expect. Their presence meant Terry could remain at home, surrounded by the people he loved most.
On the day he died, 18 September 2025, Terry was held by his family, with Treetops’ Hospice at Home nurse, Rachel, holding both Terry’s and his wife Lyn’s hands.
Mark said: “Dad was able to pass away with his close family around him, he saw his grandchildren the day he died, and we were all there with him. As a family man, I know it is exactly what he would have wanted.”
