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UK Patient Information Guide: Death and bereavement

Books

Badger's Parting Gifts
Author Susan Varley
Publisher Picture Lions
Description An illustrated story about a badger who died aimed at children between the ages of 4–11. The story describes the feelings and memories of his friends when they discovered that the badger has died.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0006643173
Date 1994
Beginnings and Endings with Lifetimes in Between
Author Bryan Mellonie & Robert Ingpen
Publisher Belitha Press Ltd
Description A picture book which illustrates that everything has a birth, a life and a death. The book explains that people also have to die too, sometimes because they are ill. Childrens book for ages: 1-6.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-1855617605
Date 1997
Caring For People With Different Faiths
Author Julia Neuberger
Publisher Radcliffe Medical Press
Description Covers various practical and ethical issues of caring for dying people. It outlines the various cultures of different faiths which are of relevance to health and healthcare and gives practical advice on providing care in a culturally appropriate manner. It also includes a chapter on Humanism.
ISBN ISBN-13:978–1-857759-45-7
Date 2004
Caring for Someone Who is Dying
Author Penny Mares
Publisher Age Concern
Description This book includes sections on understanding the nature of the illness, getting help with caring, money and legal matters, approaching death, bereavement and grief, and finally, what to do after someone has died.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-862423-70-4
Date 2003
Death and Bereavement Across Cultures
Author Colin Murray Parkes
Publisher Routledge
Description This is a handbook to meet the needs of doctors, nurses, social workers, counsellors and others involved in the care of the dying and bereaved of different cultures.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-415131-37-7
Date 1996
Facing Grief: Bereavement and the Young Adult
Author Susan Wallbank
Publisher Lutterworth Press
Description A supportive book for any young person facing or dealing with bereavement. It discusses how to cope with the death of a member of the family, or a friend.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0-718828-07-0
Date 1996
Healing Grief: A Guide to Loss and Recovery
Author Barbara Ward
Publisher Vermilion
Description A wide ranging book concentrating on bereavement but also covering other types of loss, for example divorce. Explains the grieving process, and how different members of the family may react to bereavement. There is a section on the effects of loss on children and ways that adults can help them adapt to the loss.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0091778392
Date 1993
In Your Own Time: a guide for patients and carers facing terminal illness at home
Author Elizabeth Lee
Publisher Oxford University Press
Description This book, written by a GP, is a guide for anyone affected by serious illness to empower them with the information they need to maintain the highest possible quality of life in their final days.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-198509-75-2
Date 2002
Living and Dying with Cancer
Author Angela Armstrong-Coster
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Description Explores the impact of being diagnosed with cancer on those with the disease and the people around them. It follows the different trajectories of the disease from the very first symptoms, through treatment to death.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-52154-66-7
Date 2004
Losing a Parent: Practical Help for You and Other Family Members
Author Fiona Marshall
Publisher Da Capo Press Inc
Description Looks at coping with terminal illness and death and at the grieving process.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0738209951
Date 2004
Michael Rosen's Sad Book
Author Michael Rosen and Quentin Blake
Publisher Walker Books
Description For people of all ages who have suffered a bereavement, this highly praised book tells the story, in pictures and words, of Michael Rosen's grief at the death at 18 of his second son, Eddie.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-744598-98-8
Date 2004
Straight Talk About Death For Teenagers: how to cope with losing someone you love
Author Earl Grollman
Publisher Beacon Press
Description Suggests ways to deal with the grief and other emotions felt after the death of a loved one and to discover how to go on living.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-807025-01-7
Date 2003
Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child
Author Earl A. Grollman
Publisher Beacon Press
Description An American publication. It is well written with very useful advice. The bibliography is extremely comprehensive but the emphasis is on American organisations.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0807023631
Date 1991
The Bereaved Parent
Author Harriet Sarnoff Schiff
Publisher Souvenir Press
Description An easy-to-read book, covering the major emotional and practical issues that may affect parents who have lost a child. A lot of the text is in the form of quotes and personal experiences of parents.
ISBN 0-285648-91-8
Date 1979
The Empty Bed: Bereavement and the Loss of Love
Author Susan Wallbank
Publisher Darton, Longman & Todd
Description An interesting and helpful book which considers bereavement from the point of view of different groups of people.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-232526-39-4
Date 2005
The Natural Death Handbook
Author Nicholas Albery
Publisher The Natural Death Centre
Description Includes information on many topics relating to 'green' or natural funerals. Also covers preparing for dying, and caring for a dying person at home, drawing up a will, advance funeral wishes, living wills and memory boxes.
ISBN 0-712605-76-2
Date 2003
Waterbugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children
Author Doris Stickney
Publisher Pilgrim Press
Description Aimed at children between the ages of 4–11 this is an illustrated storybook about a waterbug who left pond life for another life as a dragonfly. There are some notes for parents on explaining death to children using the story, and prayers and extracts from the bible.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0829811803
Date 1999
What On Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies?
Author Trevor Romain and Elizabeth Verdick
Publisher Free Spirit Publishing
Description Aimed at children between the ages of 4–8 this book covers questions about death and what happens after a death. Useful for not only parents, but also for bereavement counsellors, teachers, and health professionals.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-1-575420-55-4
Date 2003
What to Do When Someone Dies
Author Paul Harris (Editor)
Publisher Which? Consumer Guides
Description Gives information about dealing with the formalities after someone someone has died as straightforward and simple as possible. The book covers the law and practice in England and Wales and highlights in separate sections the important differences which apply in Scotland.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-1-844900-28-2
Date 2006
When Bad Things Happen to Good People
Author Harold S Kushner
Publisher Pan Books
Description The author, whose son died at the age of 14, discusses bereavement from a personal and religious viewpoint.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0330490559
Date 2002
When Dinosaurs Die: a guide to understanding death
Author Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown
Publisher Little, Brown and Company
Description This booklet helps to provide answers to some of the most often asked questions by children between the ages of 4 to 8.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-316119-55-9
Date 2004
When Parents Die: Learning to Live with the Loss of a Parent
Author Rebecca Abrams
Publisher Routledge
Description The author writes about her personal experience of losing her father and step-father in her late teens. For all those whose parents have died "long before you are ready to live without them". Suitable for young people who have recently lost a parent and also for older people whose parents died when they were young.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0415200660
Date 1999
When Something Terrible Happens: Children Can Learn to Cope with Grief
Author Marge Heegaard
Publisher Woodland Press
Description A practical workbook for colouring and drawing which aims to show that grief is a normal reaction to loss. The book also aims to teach children about feelings, and to discuss painful memories. Children's book for ages 7-11.
ISBN ISBN-13: 978-0962050237
Date 1991
Wills and Probate: a complete guide to making a will and administering an estate
Author Paul Elmhirst
Publisher Which? Books
Description Provides clear, easy-to-follow guidelines on the main provisions to make in a will and the factors you should consider when drafting these. The second part of the book provides step-by-step guidance on probate, making the process as straightforward and trouble-free as possible.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-1-844900-33-6
Date 2007
You'll Get Over It: The Rage of Bereavement
Author Virginia Ironside
Publisher Penguin Books
Description The death of a loved one is the most traumatic experience any of us face. The author deals with this complicated and sensitive issue, drawing on other people's accounts as well as her own experiences.
ISBN ISBN-13:978-0-140236-08-8
Date 1997

Booklets and factsheets

Bereavement
Publisher Help the Aged
Description This leaflet is written in association with Cruse Bereavement Care, a national charity offering free information, advice, support and counselling to bereaved people. It is also available on tape.
Obtain from

Online at:
www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/HealthAdvice/Issues/Bereavement

Bereavement
Publisher Royal College of Psychiatrists
Description A booklet that discusses adult bereavement in a light-hearted but sensitive way.
Obtain from

Available online at: www.rcpsych.ac.uk/mentalhealthinformation.aspx

Coping with loss
Author Wessex Cancer Trust
Description A leaflet on bereavement and how to recognise and understand one's reactions to it, including practical and emotional advice on coping.
Obtain from Wessex Cancer Trust, Bellis House, 11 Westwood Road, Southampton, Hampshire, SO17 1DL. Tel: 023 8067 2200. Fax: 023 8067 2266.
URL http://www.wessexcancer.org
Dying with cancer
Author Cancerbackup
Description Booklet
Obtain from Online version available
Order from Cancerbackup
End of Life - The Facts
Author Cancerbackup & Marie Curie Cancer Care
Description This booklet provides information for people who would like to be looked after at home during the final stages of their life.
Obtain from Online version available at www.mariecurie.org.uk/endoflife

Order from be.Macmillan or call 0800 500 800.
What To Do After A Death In England and Wales
Author Department of Work and Pensions
Description A guide to what you must do and the help you can get when someone in your family dies.
Date 2006
Obtain from Available online at www.dwp.gov.uk/publications
A copy can be obtained, along with advice on benefits for widows or widowers, from your local Job Centre Plus or Citizen's Advice Bureau offices and sometimes your local post office.
What To Do After A Death in Scotland: practical advice for times of bereavement
Author Scottish Executive Justice Department
Description This booklet (applies to Scotland only) gives information about some of the things that need to be done when someone dies.
Date 2007
Obtain from It is available online at www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource
When someone with cancer is dying
Author Macmillan Cancer Support
Description Booklet
Obtain from Order from Macmillan Cancer Support
Or call 0800 500 800
URL http://www.macmillan.org.uk

All resources in UK patient information guide have been reviewed by Cancerbackup specialist nurses and all details were correct at time of review.

Feedback about these resources or suggestions for inclusion are welcome - please contact us.


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