Dying Matters Week (15-21 March)

Published 15 March 2010

As a society we need to talk more about dying, death and bereavement. As individuals, we all need to have a conversation about what we want with family and friends, whatever our age or state of health

Around 70% of people would prefer to die at home, but around 60% die in hospital. Many of us have specific wishes about how we would like to die, or what we would like to happen after our death. Knowing loved ones have died where they wanted to be and had the funeral they would have wished can bring enormous comfort to those left behind.

The Coalition has just under 7,000 members including Alzheimer's Society and other organisations from across the NHS and the voluntary and independent health and care sectors, including hospices, care homes, charities supporting old people, children and bereavement, from social care and housing sectors, from a wide range of faith organisations, community organisations, schools and colleges, academic bodies, trade unions, the legal profession and from the funeral sector.

We are working together to encourage people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die with friends, family and loved ones to help make a 'good death' the norm.

'It's incredibly important that people have discussions about death so wishes about their care, funeral and will can be fulfilled. People with dementia might want to consider signing an 'advance decision' or an 'advanced statement' which allow a person to specify what forms of treatment they would or would not like. One in three people over 65 will die with dementia. The sooner people talk about what will happen at the end of their life the better.'
Andrew Ketteringham, Director of External Affairs, Alzheimer's Society

Starting the conversation is never easy. But if one person raises it honestly and openly, it gives others the chance to start having their say about their own death too.