End of Life Care at Home: Arranging Support in the UK (2026)

In short: start with the GP. They have overall responsibility for care at home and can arrange district nurses, specialist palliative care and, where available, hospice at home or Marie Curie Nurses. If your parent's health is getting worse quickly, ask about fast-track NHS continuing healthcare, which pays for care in full. Ask the council for a care needs assessment for them and a carer's assessment for you.

1. Talk to the GP first

The NHS says the first step is to speak to the GP, or call the number your parent's healthcare team has given you. Part of the GP's job is to explain which services are available locally, including night-time services.

The GP can arrange for community or district nurses to visit. District nurses help with things like giving medication and managing symptoms. The GP or district nurse can also refer your parent to a specialist palliative care team, which may include hospice staff, for advice on pain and other symptoms and for emotional and practical support.

Tell the GP if your parent lives alone. Marie Curie says the GP can then tell you about equipment, charities and services that may help.

2. Ask about fast-track NHS continuing healthcare

NHS continuing healthcare is care arranged and funded solely by the NHS. It is free and not means-tested. If someone's condition is getting worse quickly and they may be entering the last stage of their illness, a doctor or registered nurse can complete the fast-track pathway tool. This makes them eligible straight away. The national framework says the care package should not usually take more than 48 hours to put in place.

Fast-track can be used at home. It should still be used if your parent already has care they or the council are paying for, because the NHS should then pay in full. Read NHS continuing healthcare explained for more.

3. Hospice at home and Marie Curie Nurses

Hospice care isn't only given in a hospice building. Some hospices send their teams to people's homes, and some hospice teams can offer specialist nursing care at home 24 hours a day. You can find local hospices through Hospice UK's Hospice Care Finder.

Marie Curie Nurses give free, hands-on nursing and personal care at home to people with any terminal illness. They can provide one-to-one care overnight. In some areas they also offer daytime or evening care, or care at very short notice. You can't book a Marie Curie Nurse yourself: the GP, district nurse or hospital team arranges it. If Marie Curie doesn't cover your area, ask what other hospice at home service there is.

Based on NHS and Marie Curie guidance.

4. Help with personal care

For help with washing, dressing, getting to the toilet and meals, contact the adult social services department of your parent's council and ask for a care needs assessment. The council will also do a financial assessment to decide whether it pays for all of the care, part of it, or none of it. You can also arrange and pay for care privately.

Care workers visit at agreed times and won't be there all the time. Marie Curie says the maximum is often four visits a day. If you pay for care privately, ask a few providers for quotes. See our home care directory for local providers.

5. Equipment and adaptations

An occupational therapist, physiotherapist, district nurse or social worker can suggest equipment that would help. The council can do a free assessment and may suggest adaptations such as hand rails, a stairlift or a ramp. Some equipment may be free, depending on where you live.

Hospital bed: the district nurse, community palliative care team or GP may be able to refer your parent for one.
Walking aids and wheelchairs: in England and Wales the NHS can lend crutches, walking sticks, walking frames or a wheelchair, but usually not a mobility scooter.
Everyday items: things like commodes, shower seats, raised toilet seats and bed rails can make daily care easier.

6. Medicines and out-of-hours help

A doctor or specialist nurse may prescribe "just in case" medicines. These are kept at home so they can be given quickly if sudden symptoms such as pain, sickness, breathlessness or agitation start. They are injections, usually given by a district nurse. Ask the GP or district nurse which local pharmacies stock them.

When the usual team isn't available, call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales for urgent help that isn't an emergency. In Northern Ireland, call the GP surgery to be directed to the out-of-hours service. In a life-threatening emergency, call 999. Some hospices and palliative care teams also have a 24-hour phone line. If your parent doesn't want to go to hospital, tell the adviser. Writing their wishes in a care plan can help.

7. Look after yourself as a carer

Carer's assessment: it's free, and you can ask the council for one at any time. It can lead to breaks from caring, equipment, training and information about local support.
Benefits: if your parent has reached State Pension age and a doctor or nurse has said they might have 12 months or less to live, they can claim Attendance Allowance at the higher rate of £114.60 a week under the special rules, using form SR1 from the doctor or nurse. You may be able to get Carer's Allowance: see support for unpaid carers.
Someone to talk to: the Marie Curie Support Line is free on 0800 090 2309, or email support@mariecurie.org.uk. Hospices can also support family members.

8. Plan ahead

Talk with your parent, while they can, about where they want to be cared for and what treatment they would or wouldn't want. The NHS suggests writing wishes down as an advance care plan. A ReSPECT form records wishes about emergency care and treatment, and a lasting power of attorney lets someone make decisions if your parent can't. Staying at home isn't always possible, and people can change their minds.

When someone dies at home

A GP or registered nurse needs to check and confirm the death, which is called verifying the death. If no healthcare professional is with you, call the GP practice. In the evening, at night, at weekends or on a bank holiday, the practice will give you a number to call.

🕊️ More help: how to prepare a home for hospice care, or read our full guide to end of life care.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

Who arranges end of life care at home?

Usually the GP, who has overall responsibility for care at home. They can arrange district nurses and refer to specialist palliative care, hospice at home or Marie Curie Nurses. The council arranges personal care after a care needs assessment.

Is end of life care at home free?

Healthcare from the GP, district nurses and hospice teams is free, and so are Marie Curie Nurses. Personal care from care workers may have to be paid for, depending on the council's financial assessment, unless the NHS pays through continuing healthcare.

Can we get a nurse overnight?

In some areas Marie Curie Nurses and healthcare assistants provide free overnight care, usually in the last weeks or days of life. The GP or district nurse must make the referral.

Who do we call at night or at the weekend?

Call 111 in England, Scotland or Wales for urgent help, or 999 in a life-threatening emergency. If your parent is under a hospice or palliative care team, they may have a 24-hour number.

How do we get a hospital bed at home?

Ask the district nurse, community palliative care team or GP. They can refer your parent and will usually check that a hospital bed is suitable first.

Sources

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