End of life care at home in England: what to expect and who can help

Many people prefer to be cared for at home at the end of life, and in England the GP, community nurses, hospices, social care and paid carers can all help make that possible. The first step is usually to speak to the GP, and to put the person’s wishes in writing while they are able to.

For England. Last checked 13 November 2026. Next check by 13 February 2027. General information, not financial, legal or medical advice.

The NHS describes end of life care as support for people in the last months or years of their life, to help them live as well as possible and die with dignity. Palliative care is available from when a life-limiting illness is first diagnosed, and end of life care is the part given near the end.

The NHS says the first step is to speak to the GP, or call the number the healthcare team gave. The GP can say which local services exist, including at night.

• The GP has overall responsibility for care at home, and can arrange community nurses to give nursing care. Community nurses usually visit at home.
• Community palliative care nurses can provide or arrange hands-on nursing or personal care, advise on pain and symptoms, and support the person and their carers.
• Social services may provide equipment and home adaptations, such as hand rails.
• Hospice teams can include doctors, nurses, healthcare assistants, social workers, therapists, counsellors, chaplains and volunteers. Hospice care can be provided at home, in a care home or as a day patient, and is free, paid for through NHS funding and donations. A GP or nurse referral is usually needed, and places are limited.

Paid carers add the day-to-day personal care and company, including overnight. The NHS homecare page describes paid carers helping with daily living. Cott’s Care provides end-of-life care at home, and we have capacity for waking nights.

Putting wishes in writing early makes it easier for everyone, including the family.

• An advance statement records a person’s wishes, beliefs and values, including where they would like to be cared for. It is not legally binding, but anyone making decisions about their care must take it into account.
• An advance decision refuses specific treatments in future. It is legally binding if it complies with the Mental Capacity Act, is valid and applies. To refuse life-sustaining treatment it must be written down, signed by the person, signed by a witness, and state that it applies even if life is at risk.
• Everyone has the right to refuse CPR, and the decision is recorded in medical records. Tell family.
• A lasting power of attorney lets people the person chooses make decisions about their care if they cannot: see our guide to lasting power of attorney.

The NHS lists five priorities for the last days and hours of life: regular review by a doctor, with an explanation if death is very soon; sensitive and honest communication; involvement of the person and their family in decisions; the needs of the family met as far as possible; and an individual plan of care. The plan should be written down, shared if the person agrees, and reviewed regularly.

If you need to complain, the route depends on who arranged the care: NHS-funded care goes to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, and council-arranged care goes to the council, then the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman.

NHS continuing healthcare fast track: if a person’s health is deteriorating quickly and they are nearing the end of life, they should be considered for the fast-track pathway, so a package of care and support is in place as soon as possible, usually within 48 hours. Our guide to NHS Continuing Healthcare explains the rest.

Attendance Allowance: GOV.UK says there are different rules for people nearing the end of life, so they may get it more quickly and at a higher rate. A person who has reached State Pension age and whom a doctor or other medical professional says might have 12 months or less to live can claim under these rules. Anyone can claim on their behalf without their permission, a medical professional can provide the form needed, and no face-to-face assessment is required. See Attendance Allowance for a parent.

Hospices and palliative care services can support partners, relatives and others who help at home, through community groups or one-to-one advice. Some hospices can offer respite care, a short stay so carers can rest, but not all do. A family carer can also ask for a free carer’s assessment: see Carer’s Allowance and carer’s assessments.

The NHS lists changes that are common in the last hours and days: drowsiness, reduced eating and drinking, irregular or noisy breathing, confusion or restlessness, and cold hands and feet. Ask the care team what to expect and who to call at any hour.

Age UK’s guide explains what to do. If the death was expected, call the person’s GP practice and the nearest relative: a doctor or nurse comes to verify the death, and a doctor completes the medical certificate of cause of death, which a medical examiner reviews. You then receive information about registering the death, and contact a funeral director when ready. If the death was unexpected, call 999. Age UK’s page also explains the timescale for registering the death. Ask the GP practice or the care team for the steps that apply to you.

If you would like to talk about care at home, call us on 01242 371048, day or night: our on-call team answers. A free assessment is usually within 48 hours, and afterwards we give you a clear plan. You can ask for a clear price when you enquire, and there is no arrangement fee.

It is not medical advice. The official pages do not say how quickly community nurses visit, how out-of-hours cover works, or what end of life nursing at home costs. The advance decision and death-registration pages do not say which nations they apply to, so do not assume they apply across the UK. Attendance Allowance is not available in Scotland, where Pension Age Disability Payment applies. We have not listed local Gloucestershire hospices because we could not verify their pages.

• NHS: End of life care (read 13 November 2026)
• NHS: NHS continuing healthcare (read 13 November 2026)
• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance for people nearing the end of life (read 13 November 2026)
• Marie Curie: Palliative care (read 13 November 2026)
• Marie Curie: Advance care planning (read 13 November 2026)
• Age UK: What to do when someone dies (read 13 November 2026)
• NHS: Help at home from a paid carer (read 13 November 2026)

This guide is general information for England, written by the Cott’s Care team. Cott’s Care Limited (registered with the CQC as Cott’s Care Solutions) is a family-run home care provider in Cheltenham with over 20 years of experience.

Every public fact comes from the official pages listed above, which we read on 13 November 2026. We do not quote benefit amounts, fees or thresholds, because they change: the sources give the current figures. We will check this guide again by 13 February 2027, and sooner if the rules change.

It is not financial, legal or medical advice, and we cannot say whether any person will qualify for a benefit or service. If you spot something that looks out of date, please tell us on 01242 371048.

Cite this guide: Cott’s Care Limited (13 November 2026). End of life care at home in England: what to expect and who can help. https://cottscareltd.co.uk/guides/end-of-life-care-at-home/

• Private end of life care at home in Cheltenham
• NHS Continuing Healthcare explained
• Lasting power of attorney for a parent
• Carer’s Allowance and carer’s assessments