Caring for someone with a long-term condition or illness can last a few weeks or months or for many years. You may need to consider a range of options in order to fulfil their wishes and to ensure they receive the best care possible at the end of their life.
Deciding whether nursing or hospice care is best can be difficult. You may also find it difficult to understand the many forms of treatment available.
When the person you care for dies, you not only lose a loved one but may also lose a sense of purpose as your caring role ends. Health and social services professionals are now more aware of this impact.
Many carers are helped through this period by friends and relatives. Some may feel they also need the advice, help and support of others.
This section provides information to help carers who need to know more about:
You can also find information on Carers Direct about your benefits after the person you are looking after dies.