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Irish Hospice Foundation
Toolkit for Compassionate End-of-Life Care
• Offer support : “I am here for you” , “Is there anything I can do to help you?”, “Would you like me to call someone (priest/faith leader/family member/friend)?” • Stay with the relatives and friends until they settle. When you leave, assure them that you are nearby if they need you. “I’m going to give you some privacy now. I am just outside if you need me”. • Give support as needed but make sure that people have some private time too. Invite people to take five minutes each alone with the person if they want. “Would you like some time alone to say goodbye?” • Address concerns: “Is there something I can do for you that will help?” • Provide information : “ You can stay as long as you want to, and you can leave when you are ready to. ere is no need to rush anything”. What happens next? Often people will need support and information relating to practical matters after the death. It is important that you know the pathway of care following a death, so that you can answer questions and provide the information that people are looking for. It is good to have some written information available which details ‘what happens next’ in your care setting. • Ensure dignity, respect and privacy for the deceased person at all times. Always refer to them by their name. • Establish the deceased person’s preferences — check any documented notes of their advance care wishes. • Offer practical help : provide refreshments; offer the use of a phone. • Explain ‘what happens next’, particularly around the procedures for verification of death and care of the body. • Offer them a private room where they can have a cup of tea and make phone calls if they need to. • Administer care of the body, as per policy — invite the friends and relatives to play a part (e.g., fixing the person’s hair). “Would you like to help fix your mother’s hair?” • When bringing the friends and family back in to view the deceased person, tell them how the person will look now. Approach the body first yourself. Touch the person’s head or hands and again acknowledge the loss. is simple gesture makes it safe for everyone. Stay a little while until people settle and then you can leave. • Provide information about the pathway of care in your setting from here. For example, will the person be going to the mortuary? “We will continue to care for your mother here until she goes to the funeral home”. • Ask if a Funeral Director has been appointed. If not, provide a list of local Funeral Directors. • Ask if anybody would like to speak to a chaplain or a spiritual/faith leader. • When they are almost ready to leave, return the person’s belongings in the Family Handover Bag.
The Family Handover Bag was developed to enhance care after death, in particular, the return of the deceased person’s possessions to their family. Items such as clothes and personal belongings can have huge sentimental value. It’s important that staʙ appreciate this and handle and record these possessions with care and return them to the family in a digniʚed and respectful manner.
Death 5
Care after
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