Compass is still being developed and is effectively in beta. Some content and features may be incomplete, change, or not work as expected.

Content is anchored to trusted sources where available, but Compass has not yet been clinically reviewed. It provides general information rather than medical advice.

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Care and support systems

Bereavement support

Support for family and friends after a death, usually available for a long period afterwards.

What it means

Often provided by the same hospice or palliative service that was involved before. How long it is offered, and whether it is offered to people who did not use the service, differ by provider and by country. Grief that begins long before a death is recognised as part of the same thing.

Why you might hear it

  • Some services make contact and some wait to be asked, so it is worth knowing which.
  • Support for children is often arranged separately from support for adults.

People who may help

Where Compass goes into this

About this explanation

These are plain explanations of words you may come across, not advice about your own situation. Where a word matters to a decision, the question pages go into it properly, and your own team is the place to take it.