Dying Matters Awareness Week - 6 - 12 May

What's Dying Matters Awareness Week?

Dying Matters Awareness Week takes place from 6 - 12 May and focuses on why it’s important to talk about Dying. As a Hospice we use this awareness week to create a culture of openness about death and dying helping people plan and prepare for the future. Starting conversations about dying is often not as hard as you might think.

Honest, timely conversations about death and dying are essential to good end of life care to overcome the barriers, including lack of confidence and taboos around discussing death.

The team here at Heart of Kent Hospice, including doctors, nurses, health care assistants, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and volunteers will be encouraging communities to get talking about death and dying including conversations between healthcare professionals and patients, their carers and their families.

Why do some people find talking about death difficult?

In modern times, many people find it difficult to talk about death. This is in contrast to the Victorian era, where people were accustomed to death due to shorter lifespans and multiple generations living together. Additionally, with the advancement of modern medicine, more deaths occur in hospitals rather than at home. Consequently, we have fewer experiences with death, which can make us anxious and fearful about it. As a result, we tend to avoid discussing it, often thinking that it won’t happen to us.

Why shouldn’t we fear death?

Death is a natural part of life; at some point we will all have to face it. While death is often portrayed as a painful and unpleasant experience, the truth is that it’s usually a peaceful and gradual process. However, many of us fear death because it’s something we’re not familiar with. If we’ve never experienced the death of a loved one, it’s easy for our minds to generate fears of the unknown. In reality, many people find death to be a peaceful and comfortable experience that’s similar to falling asleep. Those who have been with a loved one during their final moments often describe it as a peaceful, sleeping-like state where the person gradually stops breathing.

What makes a good death?

A good death is different for each of us because we are all individuals. A good death is difficult to achieve if you don’t share with others how you wish to experience death. What makes a good death is honesty and openness with our loved ones – so death is planned for, just as birth is. By talking to each other, everyone understands and knows what is to occur – so nothing is hidden or locked away.

Why is discussing death important?

Talk to your loved ones about end-of-life care early, especially if an illness is involved. Starting the conversation early will give everyone time to mentally prepare and ask questions. Knowing your loved one’s wishes is important before they become too ill to communicate them. Avoiding the conversation doesn’t mean that death won’t come. Talking about it can ease fears and anxieties and help us value the time we have left. Remember, death can happen to any of us at any time.