End of life care is the care and support a person receives when they are thought to be in the last year of life, and most often in the last months, weeks or days. Its aim is to help the person live as well as possible until they die, and to die with dignity, in the place they choose where that is possible. It includes managing pain and other symptoms, practical help with daily life, and emotional, spiritual and practical support for the person and the people close to them.
If you are reading this because someone you love is dying, the Marie Curie support line (0800 090 2309) and Macmillan (0808 808 00 00) are free, open every day, and staffed by people who talk about this all the time.
Key facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who it is for | Anyone thought to be in the last year of life, whatever the illness |
| What it includes | Symptom control, nursing and personal care, equipment, emotional and spiritual support, support for family and carers |
| Where it happens | At home, in a hospice, in a care home or in hospital |
| Who leads it | GP and district nurses at home; hospice, care home or hospital teams elsewhere, with specialist palliative care support |
| Cost | NHS care is free; social care is means-tested unless NHS continuing healthcare applies |
Who is end of life care for?
Anyone who is likely to die within the next twelve months. That includes people with advanced cancer, but also people with heart failure, lung disease, kidney failure, dementia, motor neurone disease and other conditions, and frail older people whose health is declining. It also includes people who are at risk of dying from a sudden crisis in an existing condition.
Nobody can predict the timing well. Doctors and nurses use their judgement, often prompted by signs such as repeated hospital admissions, losing weight and strength, or spending more time in bed. The point of recognising that someone may be in the last year of life is not to give up on them but to make sure the right support and conversations happen in time.
What does end of life care include?
Symptom control. Pain, breathlessness, nausea, constipation, agitation and other symptoms can almost always be managed. The GP, district nurses and the palliative care team adjust medicines as needs change, and “just in case” medicines are often kept in the home so that symptoms can be treated quickly, day or night.
Nursing and personal care. Help with washing, dressing, eating, moving and using the toilet, from district nurses, care workers from an agency, hospice at home teams or family. Night sitting services, where a trained person stays overnight, are provided by some hospices and by Marie Curie.
Equipment. A hospital bed, pressure-relieving mattress, commode, hoist and other equipment can be provided at home, usually through the district nurses or an occupational therapist, and usually free.
Emotional and spiritual support. For the person and the family, from the care team, hospice counsellors and chaplains of any faith or none, and from charities.
Practical and financial support. Help with benefits (people nearing the end of life can claim certain benefits quickly under special rules), with planning, and with the paperwork that follows a death.
Support for carers. Respite, advice, and someone to call.
Where can end of life care be provided?
At home. Most people say they would prefer to die at home, and with the right support many do. Our guide to end of life care at home explains who provides it and what to expect.
In a hospice. Hospices provide specialist care for people with complex symptoms or who cannot be cared for at home, as well as day services, outpatient care and support for families. Hospice care is free. Our hospice guide explains how to get a place.
In a care home. Many people already living in a care or nursing home die there, with the home’s staff supported by the GP and palliative care team. Some homes take people specifically for end of life care. Our guide to choosing a nursing home for end of life care covers what to look for.
In hospital. Many people die in hospital, sometimes by choice and often because a crisis happens or because care at home could not be arranged in time. Hospital palliative care teams support the ward staff.
The place that is right depends on the person’s wishes, their symptoms, who is at home to help, and what can be arranged. Wishes can change, and it is common for a plan to move from home to hospice or hospital as needs change.
Who provides end of life care?
- GP: coordinates care at home, prescribes medicines, visits.
- District nurses: nursing care at home, medicines, equipment, support for carers; often the people who visit most.
- Specialist palliative care team: doctors and nurses from the hospice or hospital with particular expertise in symptom control, who advise the GP and district nurses or take over care in a hospice.
- Care workers: personal care at home, from an agency arranged by the council, the NHS or privately.
- Hospice at home and night sitting services: nursing and care at home from the hospice or Marie Curie.
- Hospital teams: for people in hospital.
- Care home staff: for people in a care home.
- Others: occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social workers, chaplains, counsellors, pharmacists.
In the best cases these people work as one team around the person. In practice, families often find themselves coordinating, which is tiring; ask the GP practice or district nurses who the key worker is, and ask for a single number to call out of hours.
How is it different from palliative care?
Palliative care is the broader term: care that relieves symptoms and improves quality of life for anyone with a serious illness, at any stage, sometimes for years and alongside treatment. End of life care is palliative care in the last part of life. Our guide to palliative care and end of life care explains the difference and why it matters.
How do you ask for end of life care?
Start with the GP or, if the person is in hospital, the ward team. Say what you are noticing and ask whether the person is approaching the end of life and what support is available. Useful questions:
- Who is coordinating the person’s care, and what is the number to call at night and weekends?
- Can we be referred to the palliative care team or hospice?
- Can we have the fast-track assessment for NHS continuing healthcare?
- What equipment and medicines should be in the house?
- What is the plan if symptoms get worse suddenly?
It is reasonable to ask these questions early. Care that is set up in advance works; care arranged in a crisis often does not.
Help that is free
- Marie Curie support line: 0800 090 2309, every day, for anyone affected by terminal illness.
- Macmillan Cancer Support: 0808 808 00 00.
- Hospice UK: hospice finder and information on hospice care.
- Age UK: 0800 678 1602, for older people and their families, including on paying for care.
- Beacon: 0345 548 0300, free advice on NHS continuing healthcare.
- NHS 111 for urgent health concerns out of hours.
Finding a service
Endoflifecare.uk lists 5,440 nursing homes, palliative home care services and hospices across 917 UK towns and cities, with the regulator’s registration and rating where one exists (checked October 2026). The listings are a starting point for finding a nursing home or home care service; hospice care is arranged by referral from the GP or hospital team.
Sources
- NHS: End of life care
- NHS: NHS continuing healthcare
- Marie Curie: Support line and information
- Hospice UK: Your guide to hospice and end of life care
- NICE: End of life care for adults: service delivery (NG142)