Background. Death is a deeply personal and emotional experience. Although death commonly occurs in residential aged care homes, family members often report feeling unprepared and shocked when death occurs. Many struggle to recognise the signs of dying and find it difficult to communicate about care and end of life (EOL) matters when emotionally strained. The aim of this study is to explore family members’ how emotional experiences are produced, understand what support families need and when, and co-design contextualised and actionable ideas to improve support. Method. Qualitative interviews were conducted with seven family carers of people who had died within the previous 12 months in residential aged care homes in Melbourne. Participants shared their EOL experiences in their own words and at their own pace. Reflexive thematic analysis was used. Participants then attended a workshop to translate findings into solution-focused ideas. Findings. Family emotional experiences at EOL are shaped by interactions between illness trajectory, care processes, communication and trust, family roles and dynamics, and experiences of dying and after death care. Based on these results, family members co-designed contextualised and actionable ideas to improve support. Conclusion/implications. For family members, it is crucial that EOL communication prioritises clarity and consistency over prognostic certainty. Trust building should be recognised as a core outcome of care. Family carers require recognition and support that is responsive to their expectations, dynamics and conflict. With aged care reform prioritising family-inclusive and person-centred care, this study provides timely insights and directions for strengthening family EOL care.