The Bereavement Supporter Project was a five year partnership project between Cruse and The ExtraCare Charitable Trust, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund (2017-2021). The project worked to improve bereavement support for older people, including those with dementia, in ExtraCare retirement villages and housing schemes.

This project worked with older bereaved people, including those with early stage dementia. Using peer support and self-help we worked to make sure they have the support they need at the time they need it in order to stay active, engaged and involved with their communities. We’ll be using the findings to influence our approach with communities in the future.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust is a registered charity which operates retirement villages and housing schemes and supports 4,400 older people including those living with dementia.

Project resources and publications

Memories and Hope: A collection of poems about memories, loss and finding hope

Compassionate Communities for Extraordinary Circumstances: Using diaries to capture bereavement support during the Covid-19 pandemic

Using Dementia Diaries to explore losses experienced by people living with dementia – report from a Learn and Share Group workshop

Carers’ Stories: Supporting people living with dementia – A guide for carers written by carers

Bereavement, loss and dementia – Supporting people living with dementia and those close to them through the grieving process

The Bereavement Supporter Project – Interim Evaluation Report August 2019 Executive Summary