Welcome
Our vision is for death to be experienced as a natural and meaningful part of life in Scotland.
We welcome everyone, just as they are. We aim to offer support that is kind, respectful, and caring to everyone who contacts us. We believe the journey from death to burial or cremation can gently support both the people who have died and those who are still living as they move into a new chapter.
In the moments and hours after someone dies, PAUSE before rushing to call a funeral director.
It can help to slow things down and take time to think about your choices. The choices made in the first hours really can affect your life, and the lives of those close to you, for many years. There is potential for beautiful memories, heart-wrenching grief and everything in-between. There are practical and financial choices to think about of course. Emotional and spiritual aspects of how we relate to our people who have died are important too. Give yourself space to find out your options and to decide what feels best for your own well‑being and for the people around you in the days ahead. What feels right may be different from what you first expect.
We are here to gently support you to navigate this time in the best way to look after yourself and those around you. About 50% of people die in hospital. Someone who dies in hospital can be kept in the hospital mortuary until you decide how they will be cared for. If the person has not died in hospital then we can tell you how to look after their body while you decide your next steps. Funeral directors can be very helpful once you are confident what to ask for but they are not essential and often not affordable.
Information Gives You Choice
When someone dies, there are many practical things to think about and many decisions to make. Everyone has their own feelings and emotional needs, and that’s okay. It takes time to create arrangements that are meaningful to everyone involved.
We know that death can feel difficult to talk about, and that it is often surrounded by taboos and uncertainty. The information we share here is clear, practical, and reassuring.
How Can We Support You?
With our guidance, you can look after yourself and feel more confident about what to do after someone’s last breath, with or without a funeral director. We can help you stay close to the person who has died, in a place that feels right for you and them, and to be involved in arranging their burial or cremation.
We can make sure you know your choices and rights when someone dies and support you to arrange a funeral that is affordable, meaningful and dignified.
If you are planning ahead we can help you to think about your options so that your funeral wishes best serve yourself and those close to you.
Most of all, we can be there for YOU.
Being at Home
When someone dies in Scotland nowadays, it is not common for their body to be kept at home. Most often, the person goes to a funeral director’s premises very soon after their last breath, even if they die at home.
It is always worth thinking about having the person at home until people with close relationships are ready to let the person go. People who have been caring are usually ready to do this in three days.
Many people feel unsure about caring for a dead body, but it is often much simpler and easier than they expect. We demystify the process for you.
You can hear people share in these video stories how meaningful this experience has been.
We believe you are the funeral director
You are maybe thinking about bringing someone home from hospital, caring for their body, or arranging their burial or cremation yourself. You are maybe thinking about how to save money or avoid getting into debt.
We are here as your assistant, advisor, and supporter. We can talk you through the steps involved and support you to think about whether you would like to do things yourself. We can support you while you do them too. We often suggest ways to include close family, friends, or your wider community.
We are ready to support you
Like many things in life, there are both pros and cons with the choices you make after someone dies. When you understand these, it becomes much easier to make the best choices for you and the people around you.
Our Daisy Chain across Scotland is here to help. We can answer your questions, talk through your options, and support you in making informed choices.
Latest News & Events Coming Up
Keep up to date with our activities on our News Page.
Online Network Gathering
tbc
After the Last Breath Course
online
autumn 2026
Slow Down When Someone Dies
This book is a call to everyone, and particularly carers, to take time in the days after someone’s last breath to tend to their own wellbeing. It demystifies the process to arrange a funeral in Scotland with step-by-step guidance.
Education is a Pillar of our Work
We want everyone in Scotland to understand their choices when someone dies. Alongside education for health professionals, we offer online learning for anyone who is curious about what is right for them and the people around them. Our aim is to help people build knowledge, confidence, and curiosity, so they can trust their instincts and look after their well‑being when someone dies.
Online Interactive Course
This course is run several times per year over 9 weeks. It is a mix of self-study and online group activity. We have 4 live online Q&A/discussion sessions. You receive materials each week including teaching videos (with transcript), interesting links and exercises. This is an opportunity to learn with like-minded folks.
Self-paced Modules
The self-paced modules cover the same material as the online course. They are an opportunity to explore the areas of interest to you at your own pace and in your own time. For each module you receive a teaching video (with transcript), interesting links to related material and exercises.
