Pennine Care encourages people to talk about dying

As part of Dying Matters Awareness Week, Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust is holding a series of events to help people to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement.

Research for Dying Matters has previously found that many people have specific wishes about their end of life care or what they would like to happen to them after their death. However, a reluctance to discuss these issues makes it much less likely that these wishes will be met.

The theme for this year’s event is that simple steps can make a big difference to people when they are dying or bereaved. Talking openly about dying, death and bereavement can make a big difference.

Staff from local Palliative Care Teams will be available at a number of events to give advice and information about what you need to consider when planning for your death, as well as where you can get help and support.

Janice Sedgwick, Lead Cancer and Palliative Care Nurse, said: “There is a big difference between people’s preferences for where they would like to die and their actual place of death. Research shows that 70% of people would prefer to die at home but more than 60% currently die in hospital.

“We want to help people to be more informed about death and dying so that they feel comfortable talking about it with their loved ones. This could include making a will or having discussions about where you would like to be cared for if you became ill. Dying may be difficult to talk about but having plans in place makes it easier for your friends and family to manage when the time eventually comes.”

Dying Matters Awareness Week is organised by the Dying Matters Coalition which encourages people to talk about their own end of life issues with friends, family and loved ones, in order to make ‘a good death’ possible for the 500,000 people who die in England each year.