If death and dying can be overwhelming for the strongest and most able among us, what does that mean for people with profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD) and their carers?

There’s very little research and support out there to understand the impact of loss on the individual in those cases. We know just as little about the impact on carers when the person they’ve been caring for dies and leaves an enormous chasm in life.

It’s important for all of us to be able to grasp loss, be able to express emotion around it and get any support we might need to heal and move on.

Help around death and multiple learning disabilities

We need to accept mortality, prepare for loss, be able to take part in rituals for saying goodbye – and healing.

The organisation PAMIS works with multi-sensory approaches to explore loss. Storytelling has proved powerful around emotionally sensitive topics. Their Bereavement and Loss Project is exploring ways of extending support.

Cruse, the bereavement charity, works to to provide counselling support, signposting and access to help and information – web resources, networks, support groups, training, best practice. See Cruse Scotland and Cruse UK.