All this week is Dying Matters Awareness Week (9th–15th May). It’s an annual event, organised by the Dying Matters coalition, dedicated to helping people talk openly about dying, death and bereavement. This year’s theme is the #BigConversation and we’re joining to talk about our campaign to improve end of life care. We want everyone to have choices about the care and support they receive in their final moments.
Sadly end of life care is too poor for too many.
Often our wishes about care and support at the end of our lives aren't being met. The choice to die in the place and manner of our choosing, in as little pain and with as much dignity as possible, should be available to everyone.
Nikki cared for her mother at the end of life. 'It was my mother’s dearest wish to die at home. I totally agree that people should be able to choose where they want to die but it doesn't end there. Family and friends need to be properly supported to help people die well.’
We’re so grateful to Macmillan supporters Nikki and Marie who have kindly shared their story of caring for a loved one at the end of their life in this moving video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89Lh1ynDAL0
What needs to change?
To improve end of life care in England, we are urging the government to fully fund improvements recommended in an independent review of choice at the end of life, known as the Choice Review. The Choice Review lays out recommendations such as ensuring there is a shared record of people’s preferences at the end of life and making funding available for community nursing to enable people to die at home if they wish to. If implemented, we believe these recommendations could truly transform the care people receive; ensuring people get the care they deserve at the end of their lives.
The government has recognised that there’s a problem and made numerous promises to ensure people get high quality end of life care. But over a year later we’re yet to see any action.
If no action is taken nearly 65,000 people dying from cancer will experience poor care between 2016 and 2020. We’re campaigning to make sure this doesn't happen.
Join our campaign - Last Wishes Matter
To help raise awareness of the urgent need for improvements in end of life care and show that our last wishes matter, all you need to do is share a wish you have. We want to show that while we all have different wishes throughout our lives, we all share the desire to choose where we die.
We’ll then collate all of the wishes we receive and use them to highlight the issue to the government. We've also made it easy for you to tweet your wish to your local MP so that they know where you stand on this important issue too.
Talking honestly about death and dying is vital to ensure our last wishes are met. Dying Matters Week is all about encouraging those conversations, and we want you to be a part of it.
You can keep an eye out for Dying Matters week activities and updates all week @mac_campaigns or join the #BigConversation.
