Nobody wants to think about when they will die, but death is something we all face at some point in our lives. By talking about it, we can make our own feelings known and be aware of what other people want when the time comes.
We have guidance for you about:
- how to cope when a loved one dies, bereavement and faith
- planning ahead and understand the choices available
- how to get local support and services
- who to speak to about the quality of your care
Coping when a loved one dies
Find out how to register a death in Suffolk, and the process during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
After you have registered a death, you can use the Tell Us Once service, which allows you to report a death to most government organisations in one go.
Suffolk InfoLink lists community and voluntary organisations:
- Local bereavement support groups available to help you
- Get in touch with your local faith organisation
- A Church Near You is the Church of England's website to find your nearest church
- Looking after your mental health and wellbeing - support groups
NHS Bereavement advice and support during coronavirus
Citizens Advice has information on what to do after someone has died, including who to inform and how to arrange the funeral
Planning ahead for the end of life
Many organisations offer advice and information on planning for end of life care:
- Age UK: end of life planning
- Compassion in Dying: making decisions and planning for care
- Dying Matters: planning ahead
- Macmillan: planning for the future with advanced cancer
- Marie Curie: easy read booklets on having a terminal illness
- NHS: end of life care
Palliative care is for people with a terminal illness and their families. There is further information about this type of care:
- Complementary therapies for palliative care
- Palliative Care for People with Learning Disabilities Network
Things to consider when planning ahead:
- Making a will: make sure your money and possessions are dealt with as you wish
- Granting Power of Attorney: give someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf
- Making advance decisions (living will): allows you to express your wishes to refuse medical treatment in the future
- Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form: tells your healthcare team not to use CPR
- Looking after your pets: RSPCA Home for Life can care for your pets in the event of your death
End of life and palliative care services in Suffolk
The Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Suffolk have information about end of life care:
- Ipswich and East Suffolk palliative care and end of life programmes
- West Suffolk palliative care and end of life programmes
- Great Yarmouth and Waveney palliative care and end of life programmes
All CCGs in Suffolk run a My Care Wishes folder, which contains your end of life documents.
Suffolk InfoLink has listings of local end of life services, including:
Having confidence and a voice in end of life care services
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They provide inspection reports of providers on their website.
The Gold Standards Framework helps doctors, nurses and care assistants to provide the highest possible standard of care for patients in the last years of life.
Find out how to make a complaint about NHS care, treatment or services.
Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG and West Suffolk CCG provide the opportunity for you to find out what they and partner organisations are currently working on, to get involved and have your say.
Healthwatch Suffolk gathers and represents the views of people in Suffolk to help them influence local health and care services. They also provide information and signposting to help navigate the health and social care system and understand what to do when things go wrong.