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, or care home. Talk to the person you care for about the importance of giving consent to share information (if they have mental capacity to consent) and check information has been passed between professionals. Ask about any training that might be available to help you with your caring role. … discuss the impact of the diagnosis on emotional wellbeing and lifestyle as well as any warning signs to look out for and what to do if anything unexpected happens. Things to think about As it is difficult for you and the person you care for to absorb information in one go, tell the doctor if either of you wants to go over something again. If you don’t understand something then ask it to be repeated or explained in a different way. Ask for a follow up appointment to address the questions you or the person you care for forgot to ask. Help the person make a list of questions beforehand…

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…

Adaptations can range in scale and cost. It might be as small as fixing an intercom or as large as an extension to the home. Your local social care team may give financial support for minor adaptations. You may also be entitled to financial help with more major adaptations via a Disabled Facilities Grant. Go to Funding end of life care for more information. Things to think about Make sure the equipment works not just for the person but also for you. Carers UK has a room by room guide on types of equipment that may or may not help. Any decisions about equipment and adaptations also… and handle the person safely. Explore with the person you care for if it is realistic to provide appropriate treatment and care in the home and what impact the necessary equipment, technology, and adaptations might have on their home environment. …

specialised nursing care, medications, medical equipment, and supplies in the person’s own home that might help you. They can help improve the person’s quality of life by managing pain and the symptoms of their illness, but they can also give you emotional support and guidance. So if you haven’t… should I ring if I am worried about the health of the person I care for? If it is a medical emergency then call 999. This can include loss of consciousness, an acute confused state, fits that aren’t stopping, chest pain, breathing difficulties, severe bleeding that won’t stop, and severe allergic… also use the NHS 111 online . What happens if there is a social care emergency out of hours for the person I care for? In this situation, you can call the Emergency Duty Team (EDT) requesting help and support or an urgent assessment. It is an emergency social work service designed only for urgent…

for set up a file and put everything in a desk or drawer, or make a list of all the information and location of papers in a notebook. If the person you care for keeps their original documents in a safety deposit box then make sure they keep a copy of the file at home. Remind them to regularly check… Here’s a summary of how you and the person you care for can work together to get their financial affairs in order in preparation for end of life. It explores what funding sources are out there to support the person you care for, as well as you as their carer. Getting financial affairs in order can be very helpful to the person you care for as it gives them the opportunity to take control of something when their life has been turned upside down. It will also help you as their carer and other family members to deal with their financial affairs after their death during a very difficult…

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… 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… 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…

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 body will mean different things to different people depending on their beliefs, faith, and preferences. For the purposes of this resource, it will refer to the care of the person once they have died. The person’s religion or own preferences may dictate how this is carried out, for example carrying out such tasks yourself or preferring to leave to others. Ideally, this should be discussed with the person prior to death as part of their advance care plan .…

Although you will be feeling very emotional, the person’s death must be confirmed by a doctor or health professional trained to formally verify death within two to three hours. This is called ‘verifying the death’. If the person dies at home and there is no health care professional qualified…. If the person has died at home, you can keep the body at home until the funeral if you choose, and the funeral director can help you look after the body there. You can also have the body cared for at the funeral home and you can visit them there. Things to think about If providing near end of life care… and your wishes are respected. If caring at home, think in advance (or as part of the person’s advance care plan ) about which funeral director to contact upon the person’s death. …

want to look at a natural burial . If wanting an eco-friendly funeral contact the Association of Green Funeral Directors . Paying for the funeral The person may have had a prepaid funeral plan so the costs are already taken care of. You may have considered this with the person before they died… the person, sharing memories as well as a way of offering refreshments to those who have travelled a long way. You can choose to provide this at home or a local venue for example a local pub, hall, or hotel. Often a separate room can be provided. Provide an address and a map to mourners so… leave your home empty for security reasons. When sharing details about the funeral with family and friends it is helpful to mention any wishes about flowers or donations to a chosen charity. Think about setting up a ‘giving’ website for people to make donations easily to a charity. If accepting…

The When someone dies (GOV.UK) provides a useful step-by-step guide on what to do after someone dies. One of the first things to do when the person you cared for has died is to check whether there is a will. They may also have left other instructions in ‘letters of wishes’. You may already know if there is a will and where it is. For example, you have discussed with them that it will be left in the financial paperwork or with their solicitor. You may also have discussed with them being the executor of the Will or you know who the executor is. If you cannot find a will in their home, check if you can find a certificate of deposit, which is sent if the Will is kept by the Principal Registry of the Family Division. Even without a certificate of deposit, it is worth checking with the Registry to see if they hold the Will. If the person you care for died in a hospital or care home…