Search

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 and emotional time. “Getting financial affairs in order” will mean different things to different people but generally speaking it will involve you helping the person you care for to do the following: Put all important papers and copies of legal documents in one place. Help the person you care…

Here’s a quick guide for planning end of life care with the person you care for. It explores the importance of taking a planned approach and highlights a number of ways in which, together, you can make an advance plan whilst the person you care for has the mental capacity to make their own decisi…

that information long enough to make the decision Take that information into account when making a decision Communicate the decision in any way The law says that people must be assumed to have capacity unless we can prove otherwise and we should give the person all the support they need to help…

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…

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…

Death by suicide is particularly distressing for relatives for the following reasons: It is hard to take on board the level of despair and hopelessness that led to the person you cared for killing themselves. Maybe you feel you ought to have ‘spotted the signs' and feel guilty you didn't do more to prevent suicide. You may be constantly asking yourself ‘what if…' There is a stigma attached to suicide. Other relatives and friends may view the suicide as a ‘selfish' act, or feel it conflicts with their religion or values. There will be police involvement leading to a coroner's inquest, which is lengthy, distressing, and can cause funeral delay. There may be media interest, which can be very intrusive. It can make it difficult to find the space to deal with the emotional impact such a death is having on you. For further information and advice on how to cope see Support…