Our end of life team is encouraging families to strike up a conversation about death and dying as part of Dying Matter Awareness Week.
The theme for the national campaign, which runs from May 2 to 6, is everyone deserves to die #InAGoodPlace. In a nutshell, it aims to open up conversations around death and dying, how and where we die, and what care and support we have in place.
Members from our End of Life Team will be manning a stall at various locations during the week. You can find them on:
- Tuesday 3 May between 10 am and 2pm – The Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber (RDaSH) bus – Scunthorpe’s Morrisons
- Tuesday 3 May between 8.30am and 3pm – Freeman Street Market in Grimsby
- Wednesday 4 May between 9am and 3pm – Brigg Garden Centre
- Friday 6 May between 8am and 4pm – Scunthorpe Market.
They would love for you to pop along and will be encouraging people to talk openly about dying, death, bereavement and making plans for end of life care.
Julieann Woollas, End of Life Lead Nurse (Acute) said: “It is so important to talk to your friends, relatives and loved ones about your and their wishes for end of life care and Dying Matters Awareness Week is a great way to get the conversation started.
“Talking about dying won’t make it happen. It’s one of the only things we all have in common, regardless of age, gender, race, or religion: we will all die someday. But it’s often something we don’t want to talk about.”
There are five steps which can help to make end of life a better experience both for patients, as well as their family and loved ones. The five steps are:
- Write a will
- Record your wishes for your funeral
- Plan your future care and support
- Consider registering as an organ donor
- Tell your loved ones your wishes.
Claire Hebden, End of Life Lead Nurse (Community) said: “It may sound morbid but talking about dying makes it more likely that you will die as you might have wished and it will make it easier for your loved ones if they know your wishes have been met.”
Making decisions about whether you would like to be resuscitated or not, where you would like to be cared for in your final days, down to what songs you’d like played at your funeral are all important decisions. It is also about making sure people receive the right emotional and practical support they need.
Everyone deserves to die #InAGoodPlace, no matter who they are.
The picture of our nurses Claire and Julieann was taken before the pandemic.
