We had to do CPR on one of our residents at my care home. It was really upsetting for all of us - the carers, residents (she collapsed in the corridor on the way to the toilet) and her daughter, who was visiting. As soon as the paramedics hooked her up to the defib I knew she was gone, because it flatlined, and sure enough they recognised death and the GP confirmed it. I wish we could just have accepted that she was gone and phoned the GP straight away, but our policy states we have to phone and ambulance, and the call taker in control said we had to commence CPR. The whole time I was pounding on her chest I was praying she wasn't in pain, it was just awful. Is there no way death can be recognised without the need for CPR before the ambulance comes? She was in her 90s and was effectively waiting to die.