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End of Life care 

Find end of life and bereavement services in Essex, including hospice care, emotional support, and practical help for families and carers.

End of life and bereavement services in Essex provide compassionate care and support for people living with life-limiting illness. In addition, they offer emotional and practical support for families, carers, and people who are bereaved.

These services focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life. Importantly, they also help families and carers feel supported during difficult times and throughout bereavement.

Care and support are available in a range of settings. For example, care may be provided at home, in care homes, hospitals, or hospices. This flexibility helps ensure care reflects each person’s needs and preferences.

What is palliative and end of life care?

Palliative care

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for people living with serious or life-limiting illness. It can be provided at any stage of illness. In addition, it may be offered alongside other treatments.

Palliative care aims to:

  • relieve pain and other symptoms
  • support emotional, psychological, and spiritual wellbeing
  • help people live as well as possible

Importantly, palliative care supports both the person receiving care and those close to them. As a result, families and carers often receive support alongside the individual.

End of life care

End of life care is part of palliative care. However, it usually refers to care in the final months, weeks, or days of life.

It focuses on:

  • comfort and dignity
  • respecting personal wishes
  • supporting families and carers

Care can be provided in different settings. For example, some people receive care at home, while others may receive care in hospices, hospitals, or care homes. This allows care to be tailored to individual needs.

Hospice and bereavement support in Essex

Hospices work alongside NHS services to provide specialist palliative end of life care. Their care extends to offering emotional and practical support to families, loved ones and carers.

Hospices may provide:

  • specialist palliative care
  • pain and symptom management
  • emotional, psychological, and spiritual support
  • support for carers and families
  • bereavement counselling

Bereavement support is often available both before and after death. This means families can continue to receive support during bereavement.

Find hospice and bereavement services near you

You can find hospice and bereavement services through your local area pages. These pages provide detailed information about available support.

For example, support is available in:

Hospice and bereavement support in north east Essex Hospice and bereavement support in mid Essex Hospice and bereavement support in south east Essex Hospice and bereavement support in south west Essex Hospice and bereavement support in west Essex

Each page includes details of available services and how to access them.

Lightwell bereavement counselling

Havens Hospices offers Lightwell Counselling, which provides bereavement counselling for adults across Essex.

This service is available to anyone aged 18 or over. For example, support is available for people whose loved one was not cared for by a hospice or who experienced sudden loss.

Support is available in several ways:

  • in person
  • by telephone
  • online

As a result, people can access support in a way that works best for them.

For more information, visit the Lightwell Counselling webpage on the Havens Hospices website.

National bereavement and end of life support organisations

In addition to local services, national organisations provide emotional and practical support.

These organisations can support you alongside local NHS and hospice services.

Urgent emotional support

Bereavement and end of life situations can be emotionally overwhelming. Support is available if you need someone to talk to.

You can:

Support is available 24 hours a day.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

End of life care focuses on comfort, dignity, and respecting personal wishes. Care teams aim to manage symptoms and provide emotional support.

Hospice UK provides helpful guidance about what to expect.

You will need to register the death and complete legal requirements. GOV.UK provides clear guidance on what to do.

Healthcare teams can also provide support and advice.

Bereavement support is available through hospices, charities, and counselling services. Support is available at any stage of grief.

Advance care planning helps you record your wishes for future care. This may include:

  • where you would prefer to receive care
  • treatments you would or would not want
  • appointing someone to make decisions on your behalf

Your GP or care team can support you with this.

Carers may be entitled to emotional support, practical help, and a carers’ assessment. Your GP, hospice, or local council can help you access support.

Yes. Care teams aim to respect each person’s values, beliefs, and traditions.

Discussing specific wishes in advance helps ensure care reflects what matters most to you.