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Organs can only be donated if the person you care for dies in hospital, usually in intensive care where the blood can be kept circulating. However, tissue (such as bone, skin, heart valves, corneas, and many others) can be donated up to 48 hours after a death which does not necessarily occur in…

Have you thought about what happens to the person you care for if something happens to you? As well as planning ahead with them about their health and social care decisions it is important to think ahead about what might happen if you are suddenly unwell, have an accident, or have to go into hosp…

The person you care for may have lost their ability to make their own decisions about their health and care and/or they may be unable to manage their property and financial affairs (see Mental capacity ). The person you care for may have already planned for a time when they cannot make their ow…

A Will is a legal document that sets out how a person wishes their money, property, and possessions (known as their ‘estate’) to be dealt with after their death. Making a will is important because: If the person you care for dies without a Will, they are said to have died ‘intestate’. Their e…

Trusts are a way of managing assets (for example investments, land, and buildings) and there are different types of Trust which are taxed differently. A trust can be set up for a number of reasons including: To control and protect family assets When someone’s too young to handle their aff…

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 whi…

Here’s an outline of why it is so important to talk openly and honestly about death and dying with the person you care for as well as other family members, including children and those with learning disabilities. The importance of early conversations with health and social care staff and issues…

There may be a number of triggers that start a conversation about death with the person you care for. It may be a personal need or a family situation that has arisen, but most commonly it is in response to a terminal diagnosis being given and death is in the forefront of everyone’s mind. You ma…

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…

Talking to children about a family member who is unwell and not able to get better from an illness is never an easy task. As parents, we naturally want to protect our children from emotional pain and suffering. This natural parental urge can be difficult to balance with the desire, to be honest a…