The Respite Care Centre in Gdańsk Strengthens its Support for Families and Caregivers

Building a national model for compassionate care

The Respite Care Centre (RCC) in Gdańsk, part of the Hospice Foundation, plays a vital role in providing compassionate, professional care for people living with dementia and other chronic conditions, while also supporting their families and caregivers. The scale of their work reflects a growing need to tackle one of the most pressing healthcare challenges of our time. With the support of partners like Aramco Europe, this year RCC has been able to extend its services to even more people in need, helping families across Poland balance the demands of caregiving with access to professional respite.

Through this partnership, Aramco Europe supports RCC’s initiatives through knowledge-sharing and collaboration, helping the Centre in its aim to become a national reference centre for respite care. In 2025 the Centre has invited partners to co-develop best practices, participate in conferences, and share expertise that contributes to discussions on care standards in Poland.

Working with Aramco Europe to extend care 

The impact of RCC has been strengthened through its work with Aramco Europe, providing even more services to more families in need. As a result of the partnership, RCC was able to extend its coverage by 1,519 days of 24-hour care to more than 250 people and an additional 600 hours of daytime care, meaning many more families in Gdańsk and the surrounding Tri-City region can access compassionate care at a time when they need it most.

Aramco Europe Chief Communications Officer Hussain Alamri said: “The Respite Care Centre sets an example in helping families access the relief and support they need, especially during challenging times. We’re proud to partner with a team that not only provides high-quality care but also invests in training, knowledge-sharing and innovation. By working together, we hope to strengthen healthcare support and share best practices in care standards across Poland for the future.”

Education, empowerment, and community impact

Beyond its core services, the Centre also runs educational and training programs for family caregivers, healthcare professionals, and volunteers, ensuring that care standards continue to rise across the community. From hosting volunteer trainings, where participants learn how to deliver empathetic and professional support, to a nationwide conference attended by experts and NGOs, RCC is a hub for knowledge-sharing and innovation in healthcare.

RCC also engages family caregivers across Poland with education and peer support through their “From Caregiver to Care Partner” and “Caregiver, Your Health Matters Too” programs.  For community caregivers, RCC provides hands-on training equipping them with essential skills such as safe patient transfer and stoma care, while the RCC internal care team continues quarterly training to ensure the highest standards of service.

Looking ahead, RCC plans to expand its initiatives further; namely, launching free support groups for dementia caregivers, releasing a new resource book to help teenagers cope with grief, hosting the annual Amber Cranes Awards to celebrate volunteers, and rolling out public awareness campaigns.

With these initiatives and across all of its work, RCC is not only caring for patients and families today but also reshaping the way Poland understands and responds to dementia and long-term care.