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first receiving a diagnosis. In particular, there is a lot of confusion about what is palliative care and what is end of life care. A life-limiting illness is an illness for which there is no cure, for example, motor neurone disease, dementia, or advanced cancer. Sometimes this is referred… not necessarily mean the person is about to die. You may find the person you care for receives palliative care for several years. Palliative care may also be given to someone as they approach end of life, although more frequently this is then referred to as end of life care. End of life care End of life care… Are you seeking information and further guidance on how to make decisions together about end of life care? Or perhaps you have recently lost a loved one and need help with immediate practical, legal, and financial issues as well as coping with grief. Whatever the situation, time will be precious…

of their life, they may be given NHS continuing healthcare on a fast-track basis. See paying for care for more information. When thinking with the person you care about where to receive end of life care go to Choosing where to be cared for . Hospice care You may think that a hospice can only provide care when someone is about to die. This is a myth; as hospices can provide care for anyone with a terminal illness, sometimes from the time they receive a terminal diagnosis. In other words, hospices provide palliative care including end of life care. The person you care for may not necessarily stay… in an emergency. Decisions about their end of life care may be made by staff in Accident and Emergency or by an assessment unit or ward. The hospital may have a palliative care unit or team where staff will help to control symptoms and provide emotional support and information for the person you care for and you…

Funding end of life care can be expensive, not just for the person you care for but also for you as the carer. The person you care for may have had to give up work because they are too unwell and/or you may have had to give up work to provide the care they need. There are a range of sources… charities that could provide help. NHS funding The NHS may fund nursing care costs in certain circumstances for the person you care for as they approach end of life. There are two different types of funding: NHS Continuing Healthcare : under this scheme, the NHS pays for care home fees or pays for care… charities providing information and advice on end of life care, some can also provide free support, practical help such as a sitting service, transport to medical appointments, and one-off grants. Hospices can also provide free care for those nearing end of life, including medical care, carer…

There may be a number of people who become involved in the person you care for’s end of life care and the provision of support to you as their carer. The person you care for may receive support from some or all of the following people, and you and the person you care for can ask questions to any… the best possible care for both of you and can be helpful in planning ahead for end of life together. A counsellor is trained to help people in all types of situations, including end of life. They will be able to help you and the person you care for to understand and express their feelings and cope better… living tasks such as walking, personal care, cooking, eating and so on. They provide practical support to enable the person to have as good a quality of life as possible as they approach end of life by providing equipment or adaptations that enable them to be as independent as possible. They can also…

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, including what you are willing and able to continue with. For more in depth information about your legal rights to a carer’s assessment and eligibility for social care support see Having a carer's assessment . Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) All hospices providing palliative and end of life care to adults in Surrey are rolling out the use of a Carers Support Needs Assessment Tool . This short simple tool is designed to enable carers to identify what support they need to help them provide palliative and end of life care for a family member or friend. It is not a substitute for a statutory carer’s assessment. Instead, it is a short simple question…

descriptions of where care can be provided and who can provide specific child care services. You can find more general information relating to end of life care , where end of life care is provided and who might be involved in end of life care . Where to get help Hospital Palliative and end of life… to as ‘respite care’), a children’s hospice will provide specialist nursing care in the family home, symptom management, end of life care and bereavement support. Tailored support is free of charge to families and includes a named key worker and a comprehensive range of therapies and support groups…. Community children’s nurses Provide specialist nursing care to children at home and will often act as a child’s key worker. They will give specialist intervention for children and young people who have a life limiting illness requiring treatment, symptom control or end of life care. For the team…

are a common experience as the person approaches the end of life. The doctor may refer to this as dyspnoea. Breathing difficulties may make conversation with the person much harder. Very near death, the person might have very noisy breathing but this is not usually upsetting to them even though it might… if a special mattress or chair cushion might help. Digestive problems Nausea, vomiting, constipation, and loss of appetite are common issues at the end of life. The causes and treatments for these symptoms are varied, so talk to a doctor or nurse right away. There are medicines that can control nausea… stops drinking and this may be a further indication of the end of life approaching. For further information on how to manage swallowing difficulties and guidance on mouth care. For details of what to expect when someone is approaching the end of their life (PDF). For further information on how to feed…

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 for and who they have the most contact with, for example, their GP, a social care worker, or a palliative care nurse. Many ‘end of life’ conversations take place in hospital, yet there are massive variations on the part of medical staff as to how and when conversations about dying take place. Unless doctors and ward staff state very clearly that a patient is dying or is at high risk of dying relatives and carers are often left in limbo. Consent to share information can also prove to be a barrier to families getting the information they need to get an honest and accurate picture…

. The person you care for may need help during the night and you need to be with them. Worrying about them and their end of life care can also keep you awake. You can try to relax before bed with a book, magazine, or hot bath, or call a friend to help you relax. Do something you enjoy such as running… and anxiety as this can put you off setting aside that necessary time for yourself. It is normal to wonder if the person you care for will be well looked after whilst you are not there, but try to remind yourself that you come back better able to deal with the demands of end of life care.…

service provides safe solutions for carers who carry out moving and handling as part of their role. This support is free. Our mental health is also very important when providing end of life care. So talking about your feelings and not bottling everything up is vital. You may have a very compassionate…