It’s necessary to talk about living and dying (From Worcester News)

It’s necessary to talk about living and dying

12:30pm Sunday 14th March 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

HEALTH and hospice leaders say they want people to talk about the taboo subject of where they want to die.

St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester is joining 7,000 members of the Dying Matters Coalition to mark Dying Matters Awareness Week which starts today.

The aim of the coalition is to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die and their funeral plans with friends, family and loved ones.

Mark Jackson, chief executive of St Richard’s Hospice, which cares for patients and families in Worcestershire who are living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, said: “This week is a great opportunity for people to begin conversations. It is in everyone’s interest to talk about the practicalities and how we feel about dying before it is too late.

“Knowing loved ones have died where they wanted to be and had the funeral they would have wished can bring enormous comfort to those left behind.”

The Dying Matters Coalition has been set up by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) to raise awareness and provide the support and information.

Research commissioned by the Dying Matters Coalition shows that less than a third (29 per cent) of people have discussed their wishes around dying and only four per cent have written advance care plans.

Despite the fact 70 per cent of people say they would like to die at home, 60 per cent die in hospitals, illustrating the importance of people talking openly about their wishes.

Sandra Rote, NHS Worcestershire’s director of clinical development and executive lead nurse, said many people still thought of death and dying as a taboo subject.

She said: “There’s no right or wrong way to discuss end of life care, it is just necessary that people have that discussion.

“We’re asking that people make sure those closest to them know their end of life wishes when that time comes.”

l St Richard’s Hospice is hosting an exhibition of alabaster sculptures illustrating the stages of grief and loss until Monday, March 22, to coincide with Dying Matters Awareness Week.

The eight sculpted heads reflect the evolving emotions of the sculptor, Jean Parker, after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Bald Statements can be viewed at the hospice in Wildwood Drive, Worcester.

To organise a visit contact Chaplain Reverend David Knight on 01905 763963, alternatively or e-mail chaplain@ strichards.org.uk.