Families and carers
Support for partners, family and carers, before and after a death.
Our support is open to partners, family members and carers, as well as to the person who is ill.
If you care for someone who is dying, you may be managing care, appointments and family as well as your own grief.
How we can help
- We can refer you to a counsellor, at no cost to you.
- Our free guide helps you and the person you care for write down their wishes.
- We can point you to local carers’ support and palliative care services.
Support to arrange
A checklist for carers. Tick off each one as you arrange it.
Support you’re entitled to
If you care for someone, you have the right to ask your council for an adult carer support plan, and it must offer you one once it knows you’re a carer. It sets out what matters to you and the support you’ll get, such as a break from caring. Ask your council’s social work team, or your local carers’ centre.
If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they get certain disability benefits, you may get Carer Support Payment from Social Security Scotland: up to £86.45 a week in 2026–27. It replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.
Carers’ centres offer advice, short breaks and other carers to talk to. Carers Trust Scotland can help you find yours.
Questions carers ask
- Can I get support if the person I care for doesn’t want it?
Yes. Our support is for you, and you don’t need their agreement to ask.
- What about practical help?
We can point you to carers’ centres, palliative care teams and local services in your area.
- Can you help us talk about what they want?
Our guide to talking with family has ideas for starting the conversation, and our planning guide helps put wishes in writing.
- Can I get money for caring?
You may get Carer Support Payment if you care for at least 35 hours a week for someone who gets certain disability benefits. Citizens Advice Scotland can check what else you might be entitled to.
- Who can I call in the evening or at weekends?
For urgent medical advice when the GP is closed, call NHS 24 on 111; in an emergency, call 999. For support out of hours, Marie Curie’s Support Line is on 0800 090 2309, every day, and Breathing Space is on 0800 83 85 87 in the evenings and at weekends.
Counselling for carers
We can refer you to a counsellor at no cost, before or after the death.
Contact us
Send us a message and someone from Friends at the End will get back to you, usually within a few working days.
- Emailinfo@fate.scot
- Office0131 271 5971Our office line, not a helpline.
- PostFriends at the End, 42 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh EH2 4HQ