Whatever your stage in life, creating a plan for the future can help clarify what is important and give you greater peace of mind. This can be especially important if you are caring for someone who is living with a terminal illness or approaching the end of their life.

Planning ahead helps to make sure that the person you care for has the space to voice their views, preferences and priorities for their care. It also provides you as their carer with the vital reassurance that you know what is important to them, helping you to feel more confident and calmer through the most difficult of times.

These kinds of conversations are not easy to have with a loved one though, and you may find it helpful to have some support to start them. If you would like support with this, our free Carers Matter Norfolk Advice Line is here to help, so please call us on 0800 083 1148.

A woman wearing a headscarf is hugged by her female friend

Dealing with bereavement and loss

Planning ahead can also help you consider what is important to you in the future, helping you to cope with the loss of a loved one. There is no right or wrong way to deal with grief when it happens – it can be overwhelming and exhausting, with a mixture of extreme emotions that can arise at any time.

Support to deal with these can be helpful at any stage, and what you need may vary over time, from a support group to information and advice, counselling or other support. We can talk to you about the services that may be right for you. Here are just a few that could help.

  • Age Space has practical, legal and support information for carers specific to Norfolk on their website, agespace.org/local/norfolk.
  • National organisations like Cruse Bereavement Support can also be a valuable source of support. See Cruse.org.uk.
  • The NHS website provides useful information on starting conversations with the teams involved in caring for a loved one and includes short films from families on what was helpful to them in caring for a loved one and dealing with their loss. See nhs.uk/conditions/end-of-life-care/ for more on this.

Please don’t struggle on alone. If you need support to care for someone at the end of their life, to plan or to cope with a bereavement, we are here to help you. Contact us on 0800 083 1148 or here.