What is Dying Matters?
Dying Matters is a campaign run by Hospice UK. They work with organisations, decision makers and the public to make things better for people who are dying or grieving.
Right now, we don’t have the right language to talk about death. And this means that not everyone gets the support that suits them as they approach the end of life. We want to see a world where people live well until the very end.
You can find a wide variety of free useful resources and avenues of support on their website HERE.
This Dying Matters Awareness Week, the focus is on how different communities and cultures in the UK feel, talk about, and deal with death and dying – and what brings them together.
There are many ways that different cultures and faiths approach and mark death and dying. But at the core, feelings about dying, and our experiences of grief, are universal emotions that we all share, no matter who we are or where we live.
The Dying Matters campaign emphasizes that discussions about death, dying, grief, and loss should not be limited to clinical teams involved in palliative and end-of-life care. These conversations are essential for everyone in society, regardless of background or experiences.
By engaging in open and compassionate dialogues with patients and their families, we foster understanding. We can also support grieving colleagues in the workplace and discuss death and dying with children and young people at home and in school. Sharing our own thoughts and feelings about what we want at the end of our lives helps to remove the stigma and taboo surrounding this important subject. This list can be found HERE. (Word Doc)
Advanced Care Plan Day
Every adult in the UK should have one or more care plans in place outlining ‘what matters most’ to them in regards to their future health and social care.
Advanced care plan day is set on 7th of May during the campaign week. The purpose of this annual day of awareness and action is to highlight the importance of care planning and help empower society to make suitable plans for themselves.
A website with useful information and links to the in person and virtual conference held on 7th May can be found HERE.
This is a message for everyone to consider and reflect on their wishes, not just for those diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. The work of National Advance Care Planning Day and Dying Matters focuses on encouraging open conversations about death, dying, and our preferences for end-of-life care. On this day, they invite people to make and share a pledge. Here are some examples of what that might look like.
- What do you want – Tell people close to you what matters most to you.
- Pledge to – Make plans for your social networks, your other online accounts and the content they contain within a social medial will.
- Pledge to – Appoint someone to make decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so within a Lasting Power of Attorney.
- Pledge to – Make plans for your physical and digital assets within a Last Will and Testament.
MyWishes: Free Will Writing, Digital Legacy, Advance Care Plan & Funeral Software is an excellent resource for individuals planning their advance care preferences. The founder, James Norris, collaborates closely with HUK, the NHS, and other charities to raise awareness about the importance of documenting future wishes. He is truly passionate about making a difference in this area. The website offers numerous free tools to help users begin outlining their plans and future wishes.