The Care After Death (5th edition) provides comprehensive guidance for staff who are responsible for supporting the care of a deceased adult in all settings. Contributors include a wide range of senior healthcare professionals.

About this publication

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The need to give personalised compassionate care does not end when the person has died but continues with care after death, including supporting friends and families into bereavement. 

Each death is a uniquely individual experience that reflects many aspects, such as the illness the person has experienced, their personal preferences if a preference could be expressed, and the social, cultural, spiritual, and religious aspects of the person’s life.

Guidance in this document includes:

  • a checklist of actions to undertake, with rationales, following a person’s death
  • responsibilities for care after death
  • personal care after death
  • education and training
  • further learning resources.
Care after death: Guidance for staff responsible

Download the guidance as a .pdf document

Authors

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Dr Jo Wilson – Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, Royal Free Hospital NHS Trust
Dr Diane Laverty – Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Theresa Mann – Nurse Consultant in Palliative Care, North London Hospice
Anita Hayes – Head of Learning and Workforce, Hospice UK
Julia Russell – Senior Clinical and Quality Improvement Lead, Hospice UK

Published by Hospice UK in September 2020
Updated by Hospice UK in March 2021, July 2022 and October 2024