Garden House Hospice Bereavement Book

Introduction

On behalf of Garden House Hospice Care please accept our thoughts and condolences at this time. We are very aware how difficult and distressing it can be coping after a death of a loved one.

We hope that the following information answers some of the questions you may have. Please feel you can contact us for any advice or help you may need while making the necessary arrangements.

When someone dies at the Hospice

You will need to contact your chosen Funeral Director to inform them of the death. If you have not already informed the Hospice we will need to know if there will be a burial or cremation and the name of the Funeral Director.

Please telephone the In Patient Unit the next day to arrange a time for you to come in and collect any property or valuables. One of our nursing staff will be able to discuss any questions you may have during this time.

The Medical Certificate of Cause of Death will be scanned over to the Registrar’s Office by the Hospice. Please allow at least two working days before making an appointment with the Registrar’s Office to register the death.

When someone dies at home

Your GP should be contacted if it is during the day. If it is at night, a weekend or a bank holiday, the Out of Hours GP service should be contacted (this is usually accessed via your GP’s main telephone number). If death occurs in the early hours of the morning you may wish to wait until the GP surgery opens to contact the person’s own doctor.

If a nurse is present at the time, they may offer to lay out the body (a carer or a family member may wish to assist). Alternatively you may prefer your chosen Funeral Director to do this.

We will continue to offer you support and a referral to our Family Support Service if you wish.

Medication

It is the responsibility of the carer or family to return all medication to a local pharmacy for disposal. This should be carried out at your earliest convenience.

The Coroner

In certain cases, such as death following an industrial related disease like Mesothelioma or if a death was sudden and unexpected, doctors must inform the Coroner. In some cases a post mortem may be required, followed by an inquest. You will be advised if the Coroner is to be notified.

Registering the death

Following a death at the Hospice, a medical examiner will be contacted by the Hospice doctor. The medical examiner will review the medical notes and will discuss the care given with the Hospice doctor and any other doctors responsible for the care of the patient in the last few months of life. Once the medical examiner has done this, they will ask the Hospice doctor to complete a medical certificate of cause of death. This certificate is scanned to the registry office and it is at this point that the Hospice staff will contact you so you can make an appointment to register the death.

It is a legal requirement that the death be registered within five working days (This is correct at the time of publishing, however may be subject to change in the future). This should be carried out by either:

• A relative

• Someone present at the time of death

• Someone who will be arranging the funeral (should the person who has died be an overseas citizen, their embassy must be notified as soon as possible).

Registration offices

You may register the death at any Registration Office in Hertfordshire. Registration services are available in Stevenage. All visits are by appointment only. This is to ensure that you are seen promptly and to avoid a lengthy wait.

You can book an appointment by calling 0300 1234 045. You can also book online at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk.

What information will the Registrar require?

• Date and place of death

• Full name of the deceased

• Any former names of the deceased

• Date and place of birth of the deceased

• Occupation of the deceased’s spouse or civil partner

• The address of the deceased

• If the deceased was still married or in a civil partnership, the date of birth of their spouse or civil partner

• Whether the deceased was in receipt of a pension or benefits from public funds

• If readily available the Medical Card or the National Health Service Number.

Please take any documents to support the above information, but don’t worry if any are not available as the death registration can still proceed.

The person registering the death should take proof of their own identity, ie passport, driving licence, utility bill.

What documents will the Registrar give me on completing the registration?

The Registrar will issue you with a Green Form to take to the Funeral Director (in some cases this will have been issued by the Coroner) which gives permission for burial or cremation. You will also be given another form (BD8), which you should take or send to the DWP in respect of the state pensions and benefits.

You will be able to purchase copy standard death certificates. The fee for a death certificate ordered at the time of registration is currently £11.00 each. These are copies of the entry in the register, which you will need for a variety of purposes such as:

• Administering the will

• Claiming a pension

• Unlocking savings from the deceased’s accounts.

The number of certificates you require will vary according to how complicated the deceased person’s affairs were.

Tell Us Once service

The Hertfordshire Registration Service offers this free service to reduce the number of local and central government departments that Hertfordshire residents have to notify following a bereavement. The service is optional but it will greatly reduce the number of departments you need to notify. During the death registration appointment, the Registrar will enter the information onto the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) system and give you a unique reference number along with contact details for the Department for Work and Pensions. You will then be able to access the Tell Us Once programme from home, either by phone or online. Tell Us Once can notify the following departments after you have registered a death:

Adult services

Attendance Allowance

Blue Badge parking permit

Carer’s Allowance

Child Benefit

Child Tax Credit

Children’s services

Council housing

Council tax

Council Tax Benefit

Disability Living Allowance

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Electoral services

Employment Support Allowance

Housing Benefit

Incapacity Benefit

Income Support

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Library services

Overseas Health Team

Owe payments to council

Passport Service

Tax Help for Older People

Working Tax Credit

Tell Us Once will pass details to these departments on your behalf; the departments you have chosen to notify will contact you directly if they need any more information to process your notification.

You can also inform local authority departments not included in Tell Us Once by completing a short form which the Registrar will hand to you before you leave the office.

Other people you should consider informing

Child/young person’s teacher

Banks/building societies

Credit card companies

Insurance companies

Social Services (cancel care)

DWP (form given by Registrar)

Employer

Solicitor (if involved)

Residential/nursing home

Mortgage Lender

Dentist

If registered in the person’s name:

Cancel appointments

Telephone/water/electricity

Car insurance

Newsagent/milkman

Clubs

Landlord/Housing

TV licence

Rental companies

Inland Revenue (if self-employed)

Bereavement Support Network

Stopping Junk Mail

It is distressing to deal with a bereavement and unsolicited mail can be insensitive and destructive during a grieving process.

By visiting www.stopmail.co.uk on your mobile, tablet or computer, we are able to securely share this information with mailing organisations and under the Data Protection Act the information will not be used for any other purpose.

Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.

Equipment return

Hertfordshire Equipment Services (HES) 01707 292555

If you have any nursing or occupational therapy equipment that needs to be returned, (such as hospital bed, mattress, toilet or bath equipment etc) please call the above number to arrange collection.

Mobility Aids

If you have any walking aids such as a frame, rollator or elbow crutches they can all be returned to Lister Hospital regardless of where they were issued.

Wheelchair Service (0333 234 0303)

If you have a wheelchair and/or wheelchair cushion that were provided by the Wheelchair Service please call the above number to let them know it is ready for return. Please also call HES on 01707 292555 who will arrange the collection.

Arranging a funeral and choosing a Funeral Director

The practicalities of arranging a funeral can be overwhelming, particularly when a loved one has recently died. This booklet contains information about some available options and may help you begin making some arrangements. If you want to discuss funeral arrangements and the options available to you, please speak with a member of staff.

Funeral planning and legal requirements

You can begin to make funeral arrangements as soon as you feel able. The plans can be confirmed almost immediately, unless a Coroner’s inquest is required following a death. Before making plans, it is important to check whether any specific instructions were left, or if any funeral arrangements were made and paid for in advance.

The main requirements in England and Wales are that the death must be registered with a Register of Births Marriages and Deaths and the body either buried or cremated. You do not need to have a ceremony, religious minister or Funeral Director unless you wish to; and if you want a ceremony, this does not need to take place in a Crematorium or Church.

Types of Funeral

There are many options concerning the content and duration of a funeral. Many services have a religious element, but ceremonies are available for those who would like a meaningful funeral service without reference to God or religion.

There are 2 common types of service

• At a Crematorium only

• At a Church or other place of worship, followed by a burial or cremation.

Other things to consider

There are many aspects you may wish to consider, such as whether the deceased will be available for viewing, how they will be dressed, whether to make announcements in a newspaper and so on. In reality, there is no such thing as a ‘standard’ funeral. Many people want the funeral to reflect an individual’s character, their way of life, beliefs and ideas. You may want to think about what readings and music would best fit for the person whose funeral you are planning and yourselves.

Choosing A Funeral Director

Funeral Directors will manage funeral arrangements and give advice regarding the practicalities.

Check if the Funeral Director you choose belongs to a trade association. This requires them to provide full information about their services and prices.

These factors may influence your choice of Funeral Director:

• Location of firm’s premises

• Range of services provided

• The way you are treated by the staff

• Cost

• Recommendation of those who have used the service

• Small family business or large firm.

Services Provided by Funeral Directors

Most people would probably require the Funeral Director to provide the following services as a minimum:

• Make the necessary arrangements

• Provide appropriate staffing

• Provide a suitable coffin

• Transfer the deceased from the place of death to the Funeral Director’s premises

• Care for the deceased prior to the funeral

• Provide a hearse to the Cemetery or Crematorium

• Arrange for burial or cremation, as appropriate

• Embalming, viewing of the deceased, or providing a limousine for mourners are optional extras.

Independent and ‘Family Organised’ Funerals

Many people choose to make their arrangements through a Funeral Director. However, some people consider an independent or ‘family run’ funeral to be more personal and less expensive. If this approach appeals and you have the time to research and prepare, enquire at the ‘Cemeteries and Crematorium’ Department of your local authority for guidance. You can also get information from the Natural Death Centre or other agencies listed in this booklet.

Funeral Costs

Costs for the same service may vary considerably from one Funeral Director to another. You may wish to get more than one quote to compare costs.

‘Disbursements’ is the word used for the fees paid to others, e.g. for Crematorium, minister, doctors’ certificates, newspaper announcements, flowers, etc.

Ask the Funeral Director for a written quotation detailing all these fees. Funeral payments are sometimes recoverable from the deceased’s estate.

Financial Help

If you are arranging a funeral you will be responsible for paying the bill, so check where the money will come from first.

If you are finding it difficult to pay for a funeral that you have to arrange, you may be able to get a Social Fund Payment providing you or your partner receive one of the following:

• Income support

• Housing benefit

• Job seeker’s allowance (income based)

• Disabled person’s tax credit

• Working family’s tax credit.

Advice may be obtained on financial assistance from Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Centre Plus or Herts County Council (0300 1234042 office hours).

Complaints

Most funerals are conducted well. But if you have a justified complaint, you should contact your Funeral Director.

If you are not satisfied with the response, you can complain to whichever of the trade associations listed below your Funeral Director belongs to:

• The National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD)

• The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors (SAIF)

• Funeral Standards Council (FSC).

Advice may also be obtained from your local Trading Standards Department.

National Association of Funeral Directors

618 Warwick Road

Solihull

West Midlands B91 1AA

Tel: 0121 711 1343

www.nafd.org.uk

The National Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

3 Bullfields, Sawbridgeworth

Hertfordshire CM21 9DB

Tel: 0345 230 6777

www.saif.org.uk

Natural Death Centre

In the Hill House

Watley Lane

Twyford, Winchester

SO21 1QX

Tel: 01962 712690

www.naturaldeath.org.uk

Bereavement Support Network

Tel: 0808 168 9607

www.bereavementsupport.co.uk

Choosing the right memorial

A memorial can provide a focal point of affection and remembrance. It can be a celebration of a life and often headstones are as unique as the life of the person they are commemorating. It can also mark the sense of loss, love and respect felt for a family member or friend.

Who can supply a memorial?

Most people choose to contact a memorial mason local to where their loved one is buried or interred. They will be able to offer guidance on the various stone alternatives, their suitability to your needs as well as advising you of the materials, finishes and sizes permitted by the local Burial Authority. You may also wish to contact the Funeral Director who arranges your loved one’s service as some offer in-house memorials, although most outsource to local masons. Privately owned cemeteries tend to supply their own limited range of memorials offered as part of a burial or cremation package.

What type of memorial is suitable for my requirements?

There are guidelines to follow in cemeteries and particularly in churchyards which will govern the type, size, material, finish and design of your natural stone tribute. It is important to be aware of the individual characteristics of each stone and their suitability to meet your needs. Whether you are looking for a new memorial or replacement, or to add an additional inscription, a fee will be charged either by the local council or your local parish. Your local masons will be able to provide you with an up-to-date list and will advise you accordingly.

How

long do I have to wait before placing a memorial on the grave?

New burial graves can take a while to settle, especially if there are extremes in weather i.e. heavy rain, snow or a long dry summer. In chalky and sandy areas, this settlement can take even longer, so it is recommended that you wait a minimum of 12 months before placing a memorial on your loved one’s grave. Some cemeteries have a different foundation system, meaning that you can place a headstone straight away. Stone tributes to mark a cremation plot, however, can be sited as soon after the interment as you feel ready, due to there being less ground disturbance.

How long does a memorial take to order?

Some of the most popular designs and colours may be held in stock whilst more unusual and bespoke headstones will be made to order. In these circumstances, it can take up to 16 weeks to import the stone so if you want your memorial placed by a specific date, it is important to factor in these timescales.

What happens to an existing headstone to allow for an additional burial/interment in the same grave/plot?

This is worth checking with your Funeral Director, as everyone works differently. Most Funeral Directors will use their own stone mason unless you specify otherwise, and it is often assumed that they will remove and store your existing memorial and then carry out the additional inscription. If you have a preferred mason, you will need to contact them first and then inform your Funeral Director of your wishes. You will also need to give the mason the date of the funeral so that the existing memorial can be removed in good time.

Change in circumstances and benefits

If you were receiving Carer’s Benefit prior to the bereavement this will continue for six weeks after the death of the person you were caring for.

Check that Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit are in your name, if not these may need to be reapplied for.

If your spouse/partner or you were on state benefits before the bereavement, or if you are now on a low income you may need this reviewed.

If you have children and are working, available benefits will depend on your income and the age of the children. If you are unable to work or are unemployed you may be eligible for increased benefits. You may also be eligible for a bereavement payment or support.

If you are under pension age

If you are a parent and any of the following benefits are in the deceased’s name these will have to be changed or reapplied for.

• Child Benefit (HMRC 0300 200 3100)

• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit (HMRC 0345 300 3900).

If you are over pension age

If your spouse/partner dies then you may need a benefits review, particularly if you are now living alone.

A review is recommended as not all benefits are means tested.

• Contact the DWP bereavement line on 0800 731 0469 for advice.

• www.gov.uk has excellent advice on all benefits or contact your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau for support in finding out what is available and how to apply.

Solicitors, Wills and legal matters

Probate (administration of an estate)

This is the legal process for the distribution of the deceased’s estate (money, property etc.) You need to establish if the deceased had made a Will. This may be found at their bank, solicitor, home, with family or a friend.

When a Will is in place

The Will may include funeral wishes, wishes regarding the deceased’s estate and the name of the executor/s or the person/s legally entitled to deal with the estate. The executor/s is/are legally responsible for administrating the estate according to the wishes in the Will. If the Will is with a solicitor, they should be informed of the death. Named executors can administer the person’s estate on their own – information on how to do this can be found at www.gov.uk, or they may prefer to get help from a solicitor.

When there is no Will in place

When someone dies without making a Will, they are said to have died intestate and different rules apply. When this happens the law sets out who should deal with the person’s affairs and who benefits. Further information on this can be found at www.gov.uk. This website also gives a step by step guide on how to proceed if you want to administer the estate yourself, but you may prefer to involve a solicitor to help you through the process.

Coping with grief

It can be hard to accept death and we may feel overwhelmed and confused by new and unexpected emotions we are unable to control. Even if we were expecting the death it still often comes as a great shock when the person dies. Part of the grieving process is trying to make sense of something that may seem senseless.

Some people initially feel numb and in a state of shock and some may feel relief that the loved one is out of pain, feeling like this can lead to a sense of being very alone and separated from other people and what’s going on around us. Life at this point can feel very empty, chaotic and frightening.

As time moves on, grief may catch some people by surprise and might feel angry or full of regret. People who are grieving can become depressed, lose their appetite, be exhausted without being able to sleep and be unable to concentrate. It can be hard to complete tasks and trying to solve problems can create anxiety and panic. This can be especially challenging as there may be many practical things that need to be done.

You may find yourself feeling lonely and isolated; friends may have drifted away while you were caring for the person who was ill and it can be hard to socialise if you are feeling low.

Grieving very often takes much more time than we think. It’s often unhelpful to compare our own experience with others as each person’s grief will be different and there are no right or wrong ways to grieve.

When to ask for help

Although the pain of grief is part of living, the emotional adjustment after such a major life event is a process that may continue for some time and is uniquely individual.

It’s natural to feel impatient or to worry about others who don’t seem to be managing their grief well, so if you are concerned it can be helpful to seek advice.

The list below offers some examples of behaviour and symptoms that may be supported by seeking professional help.

• Difficult thoughts and feelings become increasingly more intense

• Loss of interest in everyday activity

• Depression and/or anxiety which intrudes on normal activities

• Loss of interest in health and personal care

• Avoidance of memories of the deceased

• Need to be excessively busy for a prolonged period of time

• Self-enforced isolation and an inability to be with other people

• Thoughts of self harm and or suicide

Grief is a natural, albeit uncomfortable process. Everyone grieves differently and you will grieve in your own way.

Useful websites for bereaved adults

www.cruse.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care promotes the wellbeing of bereaved people, to help them understand their grief and cope with their loss. The organisation provides counselling and support. It also offers information, advice, education and training services.

Day by Day helpline: 0808 808 1677

Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk

Young Person’s helpline freephone: 0808 808 1677

www.tcf.org.uk

The Compassionate Friends provides support and friendship for bereaved parents and their families by those similarly bereaved. For parents who have lost a child of any age.

Helpline: 0345 123 2304

Email: info@tcf.org.uk

www.widowedandyoung.org.uk

The WAY (Widowed and Young) provide a self-help social and support network for men and women widowed up to the age of 50, and their children. The main aim is to help those widowed young to rebuild their lives by helping one another.

Tel: 0300 201 0051

Email: enquiries@widowedandyoung.org.uk

www.mind.org.uk

Mind provides help and support for a wide range of mental health issues. On the website, there are downloadable booklets and leaflets, as well as crisis information and details of local services.

Infoline: 0330 123 3393

www.bereavementsupport.co.uk

Bereavement Support Network gives support and advice on what to do after a death.

Tel: 0333 240 0343

www.stopmail.co.uk

A free of charge service from the Bereavement Support Network, helps to reduce the volume of unsolicited junk mail addressed to the recently deceased.

Tel: 0808 168 9607

www.gov.uk

Information about registering a death, wills, benefits and more.

Counselling and Bereavement Support Service

The Garden House Hospice Family Support Service provides counselling and other support to people bereaved of a loved one who died under our care. You can refer yourself to our service by telephoning the hospice and asking for family support. The team will listen to you and work with you to see how they can best help support you.

Counselling gives you a confidential and safe space to help you share and better understand how you are feeling. Many people find that talking to someone other than family or friends can be helpful. Our flexible service includes counselling over a number of weeks or one-off appointments. We can work with individuals and families.

Our social worker is available to offer guidance with where to find help with social, practical and financial matters.

All our team members are all skilled in working with you to help you find meaning in your life. If you have particular religious requirements, we will support you to access an appropriate faith leader if you wish to.

To find out more about any of these services, or to request support, please call 01462 679540 and ask for Family Support.

Children and Young People

The death of someone close can have a big impact on a child or young person. With the right support and information, however, children and young people can be helped to understand what has happened and learn to move forward in a positive way. There are some simple ways which can make a real difference to you and to a grieving child.

It is important to remember that children will notice changes to their world, whether big or small and can sense when something is wrong and can tell when the adults around them are stressed or upset.

Children may be more able to deal with the truth and painful information than adults. If they are not given information, they may overhear adults’ conversations and invent their own explanations, which can result in them feeling scared, worried, upset or to blame. They may react to the death of someone close to them in a variety of ways. There may be changes in their behaviour or mood. Some children will express their worries and show how they are feeling, whereas others will keep their feelings inside.

What Helps

Parents and carers can help their children by providing age appropriate information, with an opportunity to ask questions and allowing them to express their feelings and concerns.

It is important to make sure you have enough support for yourself. Inform the nursery/school/college of what has happened, as they may be able to offer support.

Children 0-11 years

• Try to continue with regular activities as far as possible. This can help children feel secure

• Children often see-saw in and out of grief, needing time to have fun as well as be sad

• Talk to the children using simple straightforward language

• Give the children as much information as they ask for

• Answer questions about death as honestly as you can

• Encourage children to talk about how they are feeling

• Children often need help retaining their memories –share memories and stories with them

• It is ok for your child to know that you are feeling sad.

Young people 12 years +

• Bereaved teenagers and young people often don’t want to talk to parents, preferring to talk to friends

• They may need to grieve privately and may be reluctant to display feelings openly

• They may take their lead from the way the adults around them behave

• They may channel their feelings into new behaviour

• They may be more likely to talk and cry with friends

If you are unsure what to tell your children, or how to explain things to them, please contact Family Support. The team will be able to discuss your concerns and help you to find ways to talk to your children about the situation. We understand that every child and circumstance is different and there is not a ‘one size fits all’.

Books List

Every child and circumstance is different and there is not a ‘one size fits all’ book that we recommend. Here are a variety of books loosely grouped into age brackets. Some of these books may overlap these groups and others may be helpful for all ages.

Pre-school Age and Upwards

• Missing Mummy by Rebecca Cole

• Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears by Emily Gravett

• Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute? by Elke and Alex Barber

• Little Meerkat’s Big Panic by Jane Evans

• Rabbityness by Jo Empson

• Muddles, Puddles and Sunshine by Diana Crossley

• The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld

Primary School Age

• The Huge Bag of Worries by Virginia Ironside

• Badger’s Parting Gifts by Susan Varley

• Michael Rosen’s Sad Book by Michael Rosen

• The Secret C: Straight Talking About Cancer by Julie Stokes

• Beyond the Rough Rock: Supporting a Child Who Has Been Bereaved by Suicide by Di Stubbs

• In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Witek and Christine Roussey

• Only One of Me – A Love Letter from Mum by Lisa Wells and Michelle Robinson

• Luna’s Red Hat by Emmi Smid

• The Invisible String by Patrice Karst

• It’s Not Fair! by Jane Foulkes and Wendy Picken

• No Matter What by Debi Gliori

• Laura’s Star by Klaus Baumgart

• Goodbye Mousie by Robie H Harris

• The Rainbow Feelings of Cancer by Chia Martin and Carrie Martin

• The Heart and the Bottle by Oliver Jeffers

• The Scar by Charlotte Moundlic

• Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie

• Drop Dead by Babette Cole

Secondary School Age

• Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian

• A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

• My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece by Annabel Pitcher

• You Will be Okay – Find Strength, Stay Hopeful and Get to Grips with Grief by Julie Stokes

www.griefencounter.org.uk

Grief Encounter helps bereaved children and young people rebuild their lives after a family death. The project aims to improve resources available to bereaved children and their families.

www.hopeagain.org.uk

A Cruse Bereavement Care site that was set up by young people. Young people can email for support, and the site also makes suggestions about helpful activities/strategies that young people who are bereaved may find helpful.

www.winstonswish.org

Winston’s Wish helps bereaved children and young people rebuild their lives after a family death. They offer practical support and guidance to families, to professionals and to anyone concerned about a grieving child.

General Enquiries: 01242 515157

Helpline: 0808 802 0021

Email: info@winstonswish.org.uk

www.childline.org.uk

Childline offers a free confidential 24 hours a day, seven days a week service for children to talk to others about their feelings or concerns. The counsellor can help children to find more information, including local sources of help and advice. Tel: 0800 1111

www.childhoodbereavementnetwork.org.uk

The Childhood Bereavement Network is a multi-agency project providing information, guidance and support.

Tel: 020 7843 6309

www.themix.org.uk

One-stop helpline for young people about any subject – will link callers to most appropriate service.

Tel: 0808 808 4994 (every day 1pm to 11pm)

www.kooth.com

An online counselling service for 11 to 25 year olds; it is a moderated site that offers peer support and counselling.

www.childbereavementuk.org

Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.

Tel: 0800 02 888 40

Remembering Someone Special

Giving in memory

Giving a gift to Garden House Hospice Care in memory of a loved one is a special way to pay tribute to their life, by protecting the future care we can give to others. If you’re thinking of making a donation in memory of a loved one, thank you.

Donations in lieu of flowers

Our collection envelopes can be on display at funeral services for people to make a donation by cash or cheque. We also have buckets and collection tins available too.

Online tribute pages

There are many online memorial pages, such as JustGiving and Virgin Money Giving which allow you to raise money for Garden House Hospice Care, and for people to leave messages and dedications to your loved one. Make sure you choose Garden House Hospice Care as your chosen charity.

Memory Garden

Make a dedication in our virtual hospice Memory Garden on our website. You can share stories and photos and return to visit your garden at any time.

Lights of Life

We know that Christmas can be overwhelming when you’re missing someone important. That’s why we hold remembrance services called Lights of Life. Join us for one of our special services, where you can remember, reflect and celebrate the life of the person – or people – that you love.

Leave a legacy

Gifts in Wills make significant contribution to funding our work. Look out for our Make a Will scheme to write or update your Will and leave a legacy to the Hospice.

How to make a donation:

• Give securely via our website: www.ghhospicecare.org.uk/ donate

• Call us on 01462 679540 or visit the Hospice during working hours

• Send your donation by post to Garden House Hospice Care, Gillison Close, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 1QU.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch with our fundraising team to find out more about any of the above or other ways to support our work. Email fundraising@ghhospicecare.org.uk or call 01462 679540.

Thank you

Charity No: 295257

In person - Our Hospice reception area is open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday By phone - 01462 679540 By email - Enquiries@ghhospicecare.org.uk By post - Garden House Hospice Care Gillison Close Letchworth Garden City SG6 1QU

Publication: Garden House Hospice Care Bereavement Booklet

Publication date: April 2024

Review date: April 2026

House Hospice Care Registered Charity No.295257

The Hospice would like to thank RNS Publications for publishing this information and the following pages contain some features from services o ering their help at this time.

Whilst the Hospice is grateful of their support it does not endorse or recommend any of the services that they provide.

�\\ bereavement ,�port network

stopping mail

STOPPING JUNK MAIL

It is distressing to deal with a bereavement and unsolicited mail can be insensitive and destructive during a grieving process.

By scanning the below QR code on your phone or visiting www.stopmail.co.uk, we are able to securely share this information with mailing organisations and under the Data Protection Act the information will not be used for any other purpose.

Other benefits reduce the possibility of identity fraud, such as assumed identity and you will only have to supply the information once.