A WORCESTER hospice is encouraging people in the area to think about how they would like to spend their final days.

As part of this week’s Dying Matters Awareness Week St Richard’s Hospice has said it is important people feel more comfortable in talking about death, dying and bereavement, following research showing 76 per cent of people in the West Midlands – the highest of any region in the UK – were uncomfortable talking about the subject and only 15 per cent had made a will.

During the week the charity is calling on people to take a series of steps to make their final days, weeks and months more enjoyable and comfortable for both themselves and their loved ones. These include writing a will, recording their funeral wishes, planning their funeral care and support, registering as an organ donor and discussing their wishes with their family members.

The hospice will also be creating a thought board at the hospice in Wildwood Drive, asking patients and visitors to complete the sentence “Before I die I want to...”.

Chaplain at the hospice David Knight said although it had generally become more acceptable to talk about death in recent years, many people still found it an uncomfortable subject to bring up.

“It’s not weird or depressing to think about what we would like when our lives draw to a close,” he said. “It’s sensible.

“It may even be life-enhancing to spend time recognising that all of us will die and to learn to focus on the things that are most important to us.”

The research also showed 83 per cent of people in the region agreed quality of life was more important than how long they lived for, but just 24 per cent said they had talked to someone about their funeral plans and only four per cent said they had written down their wishes.

During the week the hospice is also supporting the University of Worcester, which is hosting a special tree at the reception at its St John’s Campus. Students, staff and visitors will be encouraged to write down their thoughts on death and dying and hang them on the tree.

The university’s Centre for Palliative Care, which is co-run by St Richard’s Hospice, will also host a drop-in session on the topic during the morning on Thursday, May 21.

Chief executive of the Dying Matters Coalition Claire Henry said talking about death and dying could be difficult, but would ultimately save family members from having to make difficult decisions.

“We need to change the nation’s approach to dying so that all of us become better at making our end of life wishes known and asking our loved ones about theirs,” she said.

Chairman of the coalition Professor Mayur Lakhani, who is also a practising GP, said too many people still felt unable to face up to their own mortality.

“The public and health professionals alike need to become more comfortable talking about dying and discussion options for end of life care,” he said.

“We know that many people have strong views about their end of life wishes, but unless they talk about them and plan ahead they are unlikely to be met.”

For more information on support available during Dying Matters Week visit http://www.dyingmatters.org/YODO.