Making decisions about my future
End of life care
End of life care is support for people who are in the last months or years of their life. There is support available in Darlington if you or your family need support during end of life care.
What to expect from end-of-life care
The NHS guide to end-of-life care [external link] 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.
They have guidance for you about:
- planning ahead and understand the choices available
- how to cope when a loved one dies
- who to speak to about the quality of care?
Support for end of life care
Hospice Care
The aim of hospice care is to try to improve the lives of people with an incurable illness. They aim to look after the person's medical, emotional, social, psychological, practical and spiritual needs. They also support family and carers. Hospice care prioritises comfort and quality of life by reducing pain and suffering.
St Teresa's Hospice [external link] is in Darlington. It is a registered charity and provides support and palliative care in South Durham and Yorkshire. View St Teresa's website for details of the support they can provide and information on referrals.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) are the independent regulator for health and social care in England. They inspect hospice services. Read St Teresa's Hospice Care Quality Commission Report [external link]
Specialist Palliative Care Service (Macmillan)
Many people with serious and life-threatening illness find they and their carers need extra support. The team are here to provide specialist support and advice to help achieve the best possible quality of life.
Read about the help and services they can provide on County Durham and Darlington NHS website [external link] featuring their specialist palliative care service
There are community teams covering different areas of the country. South Durham Community Specialist Palliative Care team cover Bishop Aukland and Darlington. You can contact them on tel: 01325 455100
Planning ahead for end of life care
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 [external link] offer resources for having difficult conversations about dying.
- Compassion in Dying [external link] provides information on making decisions and planning your care.
- Age UK [external link] has information on making a will, power of attorney, financial support, living wills.
- Independent Age [external link] provides information about future planning.
- Alzheimers UK [external link] has information for people with Alzheimer’s.
- Macmillan [external link] offers information for people with cancer.
- Money Advice Service [external link] gives information on financial planning.
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 [external link]
- Palliative Care for People with Learning Disabilities Network [external link]
Other considerations when planning ahead
There may be other practical things you may need to consider to ensure that any wishes and needs are met.
- Making a will[external link] make sure your money and possessions are dealt with as you wish
- Granting Power of Attorney[external link] give someone you trust the legal authority to make decisions on your behalf
- Making advance decisions (living will)[external link] allows you to express your wishes to refuse medical treatment in the future
- Do Not Attempt Resuscitation (DNAR) form[external link] tells your healthcare team not to use CPR
- Looking after your pets: RSPCA Home for Life [external link] can care for your pets in the event of your death
Quality end of life care
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) [external link] is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. They provide inspection reports of providers on their website.
The Gold Standards Framework [external link] 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 [external link]
When a loved one dies
Find out how to register a death in Darlington
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.
Many organisations offer advice and information after the death of a loved one
- NHS Bereavement advice and support [external link]
- Cruse Bereavement Care – Darlington [external link]
- Citizens Advice has information on what to do after someone has died[external link], including who to inform and how to arrange the funeral