There are lots of things to consider, such as what care they need, where you live, what support is available in your local area and what your family feels comfortable with.

There is no right or wrong place. And you can change your mind at any time.

Home

Lots of people prefer to die at home. With the support of community palliative care services, this might be possible. It can be a really special time to have your sibling at home, surrounded by their family and their own things.

Nurses and the GP might be able to make home visits and there might be a 24/7 phone number at the hospital you can call for advice.

But caring for someone at home can be really difficult, tiring and stressful and it’s important your family doesn’t take on more than they can handle.

There may be changes in the way your sibling looks, feels and acts when they are approaching the end of their life. It can be heartbreaking to see someone you care about become weaker and sicker and be helpless to do anything about it.

It’s really important to get enough sleep, eat properly and make time to get out of the house. You need to take care of yourself too.  

It’s not always possible for a young person to die at home, for lots of different reasons. It’s no one’s fault or failure if your sibling cannot be cared for at home.

Hospital or hospice

It’s very common for young people to die in a hospital. Your family might feel more comfortable that they are cared for by trained staff, or there might be other reasons why hospital is the most appropriate option.

There may also be a hospice or special palliative care unit that they can go to. If your sibling goes into hospital or a hospice you might feel worried that they might not be able to come home again. But patients often move between different places of care as their condition and symptoms change.

Feel free to visit your sibling in the hospital as much as you would like. It can help you feel more involved in what is going on. You might even be able to stay overnight.