St Catherine’s Hospice supports Dying Matters Awareness Week 2013

St Catherine’s Hospice is giving its support to a national campaign which aims to get more people talking more openly about death, dying and bereavement.
The hospice is backing Dying Matters Awareness Week which runs from today – Monday May 13 – until Friday May 17.

It is run by the National Council for Palliative Care (NCPC) and is working to change public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards dying, death and bereavement – with the aim that this will help more people to both live and die well.
The theme of this year’s week is Be Ready and focuses on the things everyone should do to prepare for the end of life.
These include:
1. Making a will
2. Recording your funeral wishes
3. Planning your future care and support
4. Registering as an organ donor
5. Telling your loved ones your wishes
St Catherine’s Hospice is one of more than 30,000 members of the Dying Matters coalition, which also includes other hospices, community groups, other healthcare bodies, private individuals and groups representing a range of faiths.
On Friday, during this year’s Awareness Week, the hospice will be hosting a study day with Derian House Children’s Hospice, exploring how best to support young people with life-limiting illnesses.
The Living Through Loss conference will feature a range of workshops and speakers from both hospices, who will lead sessions centred around the topic of grief and loss.
Lynn Kelly, Head of Education at St Catherine’s Hospice, said the organisation was pleased to be involved with this year’s Dying Matters campaign.
She added: “We hope encouraging people to talk with their friends, family and loved ones about their wishes towards the end of their lives – including where they want to die and their funeral plans – will help more people to die where or how they wish.
“It will also make it easier for loved ones if they know their friends or relatives’ wishes have been carried out.”
Click here for more information about the Dying Matters campaign.
Click here for more information about our Living Through Loss conference.
Click here for more information and guidance on writing a will, and details of how gifts left in wills to St Catherine’s make such a difference to the work of the hospice.

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