Life after Caring – Endings & New Beginnings
Over time your caring role is likely to change and may come to an end. The person you care for may move into a different setting and/or be cared for by someone else. Or your caring role may come to an end because a relationship breaks down or the person you care for dies.
Whatever the circumstances, changes to your caring role may bring very mixed emotions and leave a big gap in your life. It can be hard to know who to turn to or what to do next.
We can support you through transitions, to prepare for endings and in the immediate aftermath of the event. We are here for you for up to 12 months after your caring role ends, and can offer practical, emotional and social support to help you adjust to your new circumstances and begin to rebuild your life.
Practical Matters
What to do after a death
A step-by-step UK wide guide that explains what to do when someone dies, including how to register the death and notify government departments using the ‘Tell Us Once’ service. What to do when someone dies: step by step – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The ‘Tell Us Once’ service only informs government departments, including:
- His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
- Social Security Scotland (SSS)
- Driving and Vehicle Licencing Agency (DVLA)
- Local Council
You will have to contact other financial organisations, such as the person’s bank, mortgage provider, insurance provider, workplace pension scheme etc separately to tell them the person has died.
Another practical guide that explains the law in Scotland specifically as it applies after a death. What to do after a death in Scotland – practical advice for times of bereavement: revised 11th edition 2016 (web only) – gov.scot (www.gov.scot)
Arranging and paying for a funeral
Caledonia Funeral Aid offer free support to people in Scotland who have experienced a loss or are thinking about end-of-life planning. They have a practical guide to arranging a funeral in Scotland: How to Arrange – Caledonia Funeral Aid (funerals.scot)
They provide information on the costs to expect. They can also support you to apply for funding if you are struggling to pay for a funeral: How to Pay – Caledonia Funeral Aid (funerals.scot)
You can contact their compassionate advisors on 03000 11 33 01 or email caledonia@funerals.scot.
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, you may qualify for the Funeral Support Payment – mygov.scot
Benefits review
You may find it helpful to have a benefits review with Welfare Rights (Contact the Welfare Rights Team – Perth & Kinross Council (pkc.gov.uk)) to find out what financial support you may be entitled to when your caring role changes significantly or comes to an end.
Please call our office line 01738 567076 to speak to a member of our team to request a benefits review.
Emotional support
We can continue to support you for up to 12 months after your caring role ends.
For bereavement support specifically, you may wish to explore the following services.
NHS Tayside bereavement service
NHS Tayside provide a range of information and support services to bereaved relatives, carers and staff. For more information, please visit their website NHS Tayside (scot.nhs.uk)
Local Support groups
PKAVS Carers centre offer a wide range of peer support groups and training sessions, take a look at upcoming events and how you can find support in the local area: Events | PKAVS
Support for young people
The Archie Foundation
Archie’s Child Bereavement Service is offered free of charge to families within Grampian, Tayside, the Highlands and Orkney. The service supports families and professionals who are working with children and young people.
We recognise that every child is different, and we believe that with appropriate support, information and guidance, all children and young people will manage their grief. ACBS supports children who have experienced bereavement no matter the relationship.
Archie’s Child Bereavement Service – Archie
National bereavement support services
At-a-Loss
At-a-Loss provides an online directory of bereavement support. Use the filters to find services that are relevant to the circumstances of your loss, your preferences and/or your local area: Bereavement support organisations across the UK (ataloss.org)
Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland
Cruse Scotland provides professional support for bereaved adults, children and families across Scotland. They offer 1-to-1 and group support in the early stages of bereavement and grief counselling six plus months after a death.
National Bereavement Helpline: 0808 802 6161 Bereavement Support for Adults : Cruse Scotland
Sue Ryder
Sue Ryder offer online bereavement support (Sue Ryder’s Online Bereavement Support | Sue Ryder) including online free video counselling an online community and advice and resources on coping with grief.
They also have a series of short videos or “Grief Kind Classes” Grief Kind classes: expert video tutorials to help you support others with grief | Sue Ryder explaining what grief is like and how to support people who are grieving.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) offer UK peer-led support to adults impacted by suicide loss. Call for support on 0300 111 5065 or visit Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Overcoming the isolation of people bereaved by suicide (uksobs.com) to explore their online services.
Widowed and Young
WAY Widowed & Young – Bereavement support UK (widowedandyoung.org.uk) provide peer to peer emotional and practical support to people aged 50 or under as they adjust to life after the death of a partner.
Age UK’s Silver Line
The Silver Line Helpline gives anyone aged 55 or over the opportunity to exchange a friendly word, access support or enjoy a long enriching conversation.
Age UK’s Silver Line 24-hour support line for older people: 0800470 8090
Mind to Mind
The Scottish Government’s Mind to Mind website, hosted on NHS Inform, has a specific page on grief and bereavement: Moving through grief. The page has resources based on people’s lived experience of bereavement, as well as signposting to relevant resources and support elsewhere.
Keeping connected to PKAVS Carers Centre
If you wish to remain connected to PKAVS Carers Centre in the longer term, and use your strengths, skills and interests in a new role, there are lots of opportunities to volunteer with us.
Volunteers are an essential part of the PKAVS Carers Centre team. For and informal chat about volunteering with PKAVS Carers Centre, please call us on 01738 567076, or take a look at our website page for volunteer opportunities available: Volunteer for PKAVS for PKAVS | PKAVS
