End of life care

What is end of life care, what to expect, and where to find local support

End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life.

What to expect from end of life care

The NHS website has a guide to end of life care. It covers what to expect from end of life care, sorting out money and benefits, planning your future care, and looking after your emotional and physical wellbeing.

Local services and support

End of life care includes, for example:

  • arranging any medication that might be needed
  • creating a shared plan around where the person would like to die
  • arranging carers' and nurses' visits
  • meeting the person's health and care needs

Making a plan

Plans will be made in collaboration with the person's GP, healthcare team or social worker and will provide all the information and support the person needs.

Hospices in Essex

The plan may include signposting to a range of services in the local area, such as hospices in Essex.

If you're looking after someone at the end of their life, you may also find information on our page Looking after someone's affairs.

More information

The following organisations provide information for people on all subjects related to end of life care. This includes guidance on having difficult conversations and all aspects of planning:

  • Dying Matters offer resources for having difficult conversations about dying
  • Compassion in Dying provides information on making decisions and planning your care
  • Age UK has information on making a will, power of attorney, financial support, living wills
  • Independent Age provides information about future planning
  • Alzheimers UK has information for people with Alzheimer's
  • Macmillan offers information for people with cancer
  • Money Advice Service gives information on financial planning