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Here grief is explored, as well as how you might be feeling and the importance of looking after yourself. How to support others in the family and deal with a sudden death is also covered. Grief is a normal reaction to losing a loved one, and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. You also sh…

It is very important that you take care of yourself while grieving. A crucial way of doing this is to allow yourself to talk about the person you cared for and how you are feeling. Think about whom you feel most comfortable talking to, for example, a close friend, another family member, a faith l…

Coping with bereavement is difficult when death is expected, but if the death is sudden it is even harder to deal with. A sudden death might be the result of: A murder. Road or other accident. Heart attack (which is also the second highest cause of death after cancer). Drug or alcohol o…

Accidentally or intentionally, it can also come about as a result of long-term drug and alcohol use. There are particular issues that may arise for you which make coping with grief all the more challenging: If the addiction was known to you before the death, this may have led to a strained or…

Death by suicide is particularly distressing for relatives for the following reasons: It is hard to take on board the level of despair and hopelessness that led to the person you cared for killing themselves. Maybe you feel you ought to have ‘spotted the signs' and feel guilty you didn't do…

It can be difficult to pick up the pieces after a long period of caring. Here are some issues you might want to think about in terms of moving on. Having a break You may be relieved when your caring role stops and this can make you feel guilty. This is a normal reaction. You may also feel unwell…

If you have been caring for a number of years you may be feeling very isolated and would like to link up with other former carers in a similar situation. Contact your local hospice to find out about support groups for former carers, or contact Action for Carers in Surrey. You can also speak to fo…

The When someone dies (GOV.UK) provides a useful step-by-step guide on what to do after someone dies. One of the first things to do when the person you cared for has died is to check whether there is a will. They may also have left other instructions in ‘letters of wishes’. You may already know…

There are benefits available to help with the costs when somebody dies. You might be able to get help to pay for the funeral of a partner, close relative, close friend, or child. You must be responsible for the funeral and you must meet certain criteria, including being in receipt of certain be…

You may be able to get extra state pension payments from your husband, wife, or civil partner’s state pension or NI contributions. You need to be over state pension age to claim extra payments, and what you get and how you claim will depend on whether you reached state pension age before or after…