Planning ahead – why do it?

None of us particularly wants to think about becoming unwell and possibly facing the end of our lives but there are good reasons to do so.

Despite the fact that 100% of us will die, in the UK around half of the adult population have not made a will. Doing so can make a massive difference to your loved ones, and talking about your wishes can be really helpful. Many charities hold special make a will events, and it is important to use the services of a solicitor to avoid costly complications after you die.

There are many resources available to help with documenting your wishes, including a tool on www.advancecareplanning.org.uk Try having a chat to your friends and family, starting with something a bit light-hearted such as your favourite song to be played at your funeral can help to open a conversation. Writing your wishes down can really help healthcare professionals as well, and there is no reason to wait until you are unwell. We all live our lives differently so understandably we will all face the end of our lives differently, and we can sometimes assume our loved ones will know what is most important to us, but that often isn't the case. As examples, what will happen to your pets, what about your social media accounts?

Where can I find more information?

Dying Matters is a campaign run by Hospice UK, and it aims to work with organisations, decision makers and the public to make things better for people who are dying or grieving. www.hospiceuk.org/our-campaigns/dying-matters

Kathryn Mannix is a palliative care doctor who has a lot of resources on her website www.kathrynmannix.com including an excellent short video, “Dying is not as bad as you think”.

 Rowans Hospice in Purbrook can help people who are affected by life-limiting illness and their loved ones, and support can be given by their Living Well Services without a referral to The Hospice. www.rowanshospice.co.uk/care/

Books (and more) to help you explore the culture of death and dying

How to talk about death and dying