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as the tax implications. They can also talk to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) on someone’s behalf subject to being given permission More detailed information about trusts and sources of support. Help is also available from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners . …

of exercise. If you or other family/friends are unable to rehome the pet, some charities and organisations will help, for example, Blue Cross, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust, and RSPCA. If the person is distressed at planning their pet’s future care, the Blue Cross offers a service to support people who have…

Talking about death and dying with other members of the family can raise all kinds of issues and problems. A terminal diagnosis can trigger a range of feelings including anger, fear, and sadness and these may vary depending on the family member and their coping abilities. Your family will also ha…

Allows time to put additional support systems in place, such as school counsellors and grief programmes, where available Enables children to grieve with the adults in their lives, instead of alone and from the sidelines. You and other family members can help children understand that their emotions… a specialist service supporting children and their families who are facing the loss of a loved one. Contact them on 01342 313895. A dedicated support worker can help you prepare to speak with your children and then make plans for how to support them once they have been told the news. They liaise with the children’s schools, with parental consent, and help ensure each child receives all the support and guidance they require. They also offer 1:1 support for children to help them during the loss of their loved one and beyond. Your local hospice may also be able to offer support to your family. Go…

You and/or the person you care for may find it easier to ask a professional to be involved in discussions about death. Or it might be simply having the professional there that will give everyone more confidence to talk about death. Who that professional is will often depend on the person you care…

A person with a learning disability may need support to talk about death and dying or to make important decisions around their own end of life care. They may need additional help, specific to their communication needs, to ask questions and to make sure their wishes and preferences are recorded. ​A person with a learning disability in your family may also be involved in providing end of life care. Marie Curie has developed a number of easy read booklets that will help a person with a learning disability talk about death and provide support to someone with a terminal illness. For more information about talking with people with learning disabilities and end of life planning Professor Irene Tuffrey-Wijne talks further at Tuffrey-Wijne . …

and friends have any special wishes? Using a funeral director Using a good funeral director will make the whole process of organising a funeral that much easier. It can be helpful to have their expert guidance as well as their comforting support at such a difficult time. The funeral director can remove… distressing so see if there is someone who can be with you too. Children attending the funeral It is sometimes difficult to know how to support a child in the family when you may be struggling to cope with your own feelings. However, it is important that children have the opportunity to express…, the child may express disappointment at not being able to say goodbye at the funeral. Have an alternative ceremony if your child chooses not to go. This could be scattering the person’s ashes, planting a tree or letting off a balloon with a message on it. Provide support during the funeral. Make…

Here grief is explored, as well as how you might be feeling and the importance of looking after yourself. How to support others in the family and deal with a sudden death is also covered. Grief is a normal reaction to losing a loved one, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. You also shouldn't assume you will experience grief, especially when the person you cared for has suffered or had a very drawn-out death. In this situation, we can often feel a sense of relief. To hear about people's different grief responses watch this video. Remember, you cannot fix grief or remove it in some way. Grief is often described as a process or in terms of stages. There are 5 stages of grief . You may experience all of these stages or only some. You may experience them in a different order. Crying is a normal reaction to losing someone you cared about. It is a natural way…

It is very important that you take care of yourself while grieving. A crucial way of doing this is to allow yourself to talk about the person you cared for and how you are feeling. Think about whom you feel most comfortable talking to, for example, a close friend, another family member, a faith leader, a health or social care professional, or a support organisation. There is a useful list of do's and don'ts in terms of looking after your own emotional wellbeing . Don't ignore your physical wellbeing. You may not feel like eating in the early stages of grieving, or you may not feel like cooking and just want to eat ‘comfort' foods. This is quite normal. Try and remember that you need to try and eat as healthily as you can and that there's lots of information around to help you with this. You may have problems sleeping , in which case talk to your GP. You can also try exercising…

, seek professional advice and support, for example from a GP or a local bereavement organisation such as Jigsaw or Winston's Wish Look after yourself. Only by looking after yourself can you be of support to a child. For further guidance and advice on how to talk to a child about death…