The main hospice in Royal Greenwich is Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice. If the person you care for is using their services, you'll be eligible for support from them.

Find out about the support available for carers (Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice website).

Advance care planning

This is a structured discussion with the person you care for, their family and unpaid carers about their wishes and thoughts for the future. Although these conversations may have occurred before, it may not have involved all the relevant people or have been communicated to others.

It's a good idea to develop an advance care plan for every appropriate person.

• Find out more about advance care planning (Gold Standard Framework website)
• Practical information on end of life planning (NHS website).

What to do after a death

When someone dies, there are four practical things you need to do in the first few days.

1. Get a medical certificate from a doctor (GP or at a hospital) - You'll need one to register the death
2. Register the death within five days of the death - You'll then get the documents you need for the funeral
3. Find the will - The deceased person's solicitor may have a copy if you can't find one
4. Begin funeral arrangements - You'll need to check the will for any special requests.

Registering a death

You can go to any register office. If you use the one in the area where the person died, they'll give you the documents you'll need on the day. Registering the death will take about 30 minutes, but you might need to make an appointment.

• If there is a will - Contact the executor if this isn't you to enable them to start the process of obtaining probate. The executor is usually nominated in the will to sort out the deceased's affairs
• If there is no will - Decide who will apply to sort out the deceased's affairs and contact the Probate Registry to apply for letters of administration.

Find out more about registering a death

Bereavement care

There are many organisations that can provide support to you after the death of someone close. These include:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
• Cruse Bereavement Care Greenwich
• SANDS - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society
• The Compassionate Friends.

Going back to work

At some point you may wish to consider returning to work. It's completely normal to feel anxious or have less confidence in the workplace than before. There are organisations that can help you develop your skills and confidence, and enable you to return to work when you're ready.

Information about life after caring on the Carers Trust website