Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • FAQs
  • Sitemap
Home

Search form

Raising awareness of dying, death and bereavement
Donate

Main menu

  • Home
  • About us
  • Join us
  • Resources
  • Information
  • News
  • Community
  • Awareness Week

Join us today

Our members play a key role in breaking down taboos around death and dying. Joining is free! 

Sign up today

Contact us

Pinpointed map of London

Get in touch with Dying Matters

Member of National Voices

Hospice UK and Dying Matters are proud to be a member of National Voices.

Read more...

You are here

Home » Information » Understanding death and dying

Understanding death and dying

A nurse looking after a man What happens when someone starts to die, and how end of life care is provided.

How we die is a profoundly personal journey. This section aims to help you understand what may happen as death approaches, the practical things you may need to think about when caring for a dying person, and how a death can affect family relationships.

There were 541,589 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2018, an increase of 1.6% compared with 2017. Two-thirds are aged 75 and over. 

The five leading causes of death for men: 

  • Ischaemic heart diseases 14.3 % of all male deaths
  • Dementia and Alzheimer disease 7.9%
  • Malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung 6.4%
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases 6.2%
  • Cerebrovascular diseases 5.6%
 

More information

The five leading causes of death for women:

  • Dementia and Alzheimer disease 15.2% of all female deaths 
  • Ischaemic heart diseases 8.8%
  • Cerebrovascular diseases 7.5%
  • Influenza and Pneumonia 6.1%
  • Chronic lower respiratory diseases 6.0%
 

More information

End of Life Care 

The goal of care for people who are dying focuses on helping them enjoy as good a quality of life as possible. This may include relieving suffering; helping people stay as well as they can; and helping them achieve goals that are important to them before they die. This care is often provided by a mix of professionals, including those skilled in palliative care. These professionals will want to ensure that everyone affected by a terminal condition (including families and carers) knows about the choices they have and what support is available to them at this difficult time.

The Dying Process

A lady with man in hospitalThe links below lead to information explaining the physical changes that happen when someone nears the end of life, and provide practical support and help to relatives and friends. Many dying people say they feel excluded from important conversations about what may happen to them as they begin to die. It is hoped that this information will be of help and support to them too.

More

  • Signs that death is near
  • Practicalities to think about when someone is dying
  • At the bedside
  • Coping with family dynamics when someone is dying
  • Further information and support

 

Related links: 
Planning ahead
Talking about death and dying
What to do after someone dies
Bereavement
Information for carers
Concerns about end of life care
Glossary
  • Email to a friend
  • Print this page
  • Find us on
    Facebook
  • Follow us
    on Twitter
  • Follow us
    on Instagram
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Terms and Conditions
Hospice UK     NHS England     National Voices

Dying Matters is led by Hospice UK
© Copyright Hospice UK 2018
Company limited by guarantee. Registered in England and Wales No. 2751549.
Charity registered in England and Wales No. 1014851, and in Scotland No. SC041112.
VAT No 731 304476.
Dying Matters is supported by NHS IQ
White Fuse Media