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It is likely that your child will have been diagnosed in a hospital setting. The time that your child is able to return home will vary depending on the nature of your child’s illness. It may be your child needs immediate medical attention following diagnosis or your child may be able to go home straight after diagnosis. Whenever is the right time for your child to be discharged home there will be a number of things that you will need to be aware of: Planning for transfer from hospital should start as soon as possible. As part of that process there should be an initial assessment meeting involving you and key staff supporting your child. This is likely to include hospital staff, community health staff, social care workers, your GP and you and immediate family. You, your family and your child’s needs should be discussed and a plan drawn up to enable your child to return home safely…

. If looking for a care home provider which offers respite Care Choices may be of help to you. If you need help to access a break from your caring role or need more local information about carer breaks talk to Action for Carers Surrey or if you want additional information outside of Surrey access… Taking a break from caring for the person who is terminally ill is vital for your own health and wellbeing. If you don’t take a break then there is a danger that you will become unwell yourself and be unable to continue caring for them. Sometimes taking a temporary break from caring is called respite. What sort of break you have and how long that break is will depend on what works best for you and the person you care for. It is sensible to talk with them about taking a break from your caring role when planning ahead together. You may prefer a few hours regular break each week, or you may…

If you are struggling to keep your home clean you may benefit from domestic support. You can find local organisations that can help you by entering words such as home care , or cleaning in the search box on the home page of this website, along with your postcode. Take a look at home equipment finder for equipment to help you move safely and securely around your home. Maintaining your home A number of organisations can help you to make small changes or do other practical jobs around your home, to make your life easier and safer. search ‘ handyperson ’ to find a list of organisations that could help use the uktsa website to find a recommended local decorator, handyman, plumber, electrician, or builder If you are struggling with stairs or accessing essential rooms in your house a home adaptation or change may be necessary. Consider talking to a home improvement agency…

you like this to be in your own home, at the hospital or hospice, or at the local social care teams office? Prepare for your carer’s assessment by thinking about what you want to cover and discuss with the assessor. Be honest and realistic about the impact of your end of life caring role…. As long as your life is affected in some way by your caring role you are entitled to an assessment. If there are other people in your family providing support to the same person they too may benefit from a carer’s assessment. A carer’s assessment isn’t rationed to one per cared for person. If you… or charge for services or support to you as the carer. Things to think about Consider how you would like the assessment to be carried out. Do you want a separate conversation with the assessor away from the person you care for, so that you can be frank about your caring role? Think about who else you…

for information anyway. Often this information is inaccurate and can lead to unnecessary worry and anxiety. Your child may want to protect you and avoid raising the subject despite wanting to talk about it. Your child will take the cue from you about whether they can talk about their concerns… opportunities for your child to ask questions when they feel ready. Where possible it is helpful to have both parents available to talk to your child or perhaps another family member such as a grandparent or someone else close to the child. If your child is in hospital or a hospice you can ask staff… condition, as this requires your other children to keep secrets. Together for short lives has some wonderful information on this subject. There are a range of sources of emotional support for your child and your family: Spiritual caregivers from the appropriate faith for you. If you…

It may be that school is still a major focus of their lives. It is important to keep providing your child, as far as is possible, the opportunity to learn, develop, play and experience a normal life. School age children should be enabled to attend their own school for as long as they can, so that they can benefit from interacting with friends as well as receiving an education. The school can also provide your child and your family with an important source of support, including giving you a break during the day. If your child is no longer able to attend school due to their deteriorating health then education can continue through the hospital or hospice school or through the home tuition service for as long as your child is enjoying the experience and still learning. Things to think about Make sure your child’s school is part of the multidisciplinary team supporting your child…

Equipment Equipment can be bought directly from a specialist supplier or household shop without an OT assessment. This might include more minor equipment items such as a raised toilet seat, pressure mattress, bath hoist, over bed table, wheelchair, crutches, or a hospital style bed. If not having an OT assessment it is best the person tries it out first either as a trial period in the home or the store, particularly if it is an expensive item. You, as the carer, also need to ensure it is safe to use and not putting your own health at risk. If the equipment proves helpful you can still arrange for a social care assessment to see if the person would be eligible for financial help. Equipment such as a hospital bed, mattress, or commode can be provided by your local community nursing team. The person’s GP can make a referral to the nursing team and they will come to the home to assess…

lost or rehomed a pet. Things to think about Talk to the person you care for about different options in relation to more help or rehoming. Help them to make a list of what type of home their pet might need. Get help and advice from different local charities and organisations about rehoming… The person you care for may be very worried about who will look after their pet when they are very ill or after they have died. It may be helpful to them for you to help them plan for their pet’s future either by finding a new home for them or to find some extra help to look after their pet… and look after pets while someone is in hospital. If looking to rehome a pet, it can help to make a list of things that the person you care for feels are important to their pet and put in priority order for example the amount of inside and outdoor space needed, type of care needed or the amount…

Here’s an outline of what happens upon death and in the few days after death. It explores how you might be feeling and what you need to be aware of in terms of the verification of death, getting a medical certificate, as well as how to register the death. It is very difficult to predict how you are going to feel immediately after the person dies. You may feel completely numb and in shock, disconnected from everyone, place, and time. You may feel overcome with sadness or even anger at what has just happened. If the person has been ill for some time, with a reduced quality of life, you may even feel relief. You won’t know until it happens and there is no right or wrong way to feel. If the person dies in hospital, hospice, or care home you may want to ask staff for some time with the body to give you the space you need to cope with how you are feeling. Last offices or laying out…

the bereavement service either at the hospital or the local council (depending on the place of death) to arrange a public health-funded funeral getting a funeral payment from the government if you are on low income or getting certain benefits. The claim period runs from the date of death up to three months… the body from the place of death and look after it up to the day of the funeral. They will help you plan the ceremony, deal with documentation that allows cremation/burial to go ahead, and generally make sure everything happens at the right time, in the right place, and by the right people. You don’t… instruction from you or you may decide to organise the whole funeral yourself. Things to think about Contact a few funeral directors in your area to compare cost and the nature of their service. Or ask friends, family, or your faith leader for recommendations. Look for a member of a professional…