Dying Matters Awareness Week
14 May 2012
Author: MS Trust
This week, 14-20 May, is Dying Matters Awareness Week.
This year's theme is Small Actions, Big Difference. By being more open about dying and taking small actions such as writing a will, signing up to become an organ donor or looking out for those who have been recently bereaved, we can all help make a big difference to ensuring people can live well and die well.
The week has been launched with the publication of a survey which reveals that discussing dying and making end of life plans remains a taboo for many people. The research found that people do have serious concerns about dying, yet despite this
- just 27% of the public have asked a family member about their end of life wishes
- only 31% have talked to someone about their own end of life wishes
- just 37% of the public have written a will
- only 31% have registered to become an organ donor or have a donor card
- and only 8% have written down their wishes or preferences, should they become unable to make these decisions themselves.
The Dying Matters website lists a full calendar of events and activities taking place across England aimed at encouraging people to start conversations about dying and death and to discuss the type of end of life care they want.
Set up by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) the Dying Matters Coalition aims to encourage 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.