‘Talk, plan, live’ this Dying Matters Week

A community hub and café opened by St Catherine’s Hospice will be adding its voice to campaigners across the country to encourage people to talk about and plan for the end of life as part of a national awareness week.

The Mill in St Catherine’s Park will host a drop-in session as part of this year’s Dying Matters Week, which runs from May 18 to 24 with the theme ‘talk, plan, live’.

The event on Tuesday May 19 will welcome experts from a range of fields, who will be there to offer advice on the five steps the campaign is asking people to take to plan for the end of life.

These include writing a will, recording funeral wishes, planning the future care and support you might need, registering as an organ donor and telling loved ones your wishes.

Visitors are invited to call in any time between 11am and 2pm to see experts from Birchall Blackburn Law, Ellen Fay Solicitors, BJ Watson Funeral Directors, Lancashire Teaching Hospital’s bereavement and donation team and The Therapy Company.

Nurses from St Catherine’s Hospice as well as volunteer advisors from The Mill – who are there specifically to help visitors facing serious illnesses with information and signposting to other services who might be able to help – will also be on hand.

Lynn Kelly, Director of Knowledge Exchange Services at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “It’s important to get people thinking about making plans for end of life even if it’s long way off. More importantly we need to tell family and friends about our wishes as it can save a great deal of distress at a later time.

“‘Talk, Plan, Live’ is bringing together a group of experts to help people start to think about what they need to put in place. It’s free and convenient as you can access different specialities all in the one place. The Mill, as well as welcoming café, is also there to provide trustworthy information to the local community whenever they might need it – our volunteer advisors are here help people all year round.”

The drop-in event takes place at The Mill, St Catherine’s Park, Lostock Lane, Lostock Hall, Preston, PR5 5XU on Tuesday May 19 from 11am until 2pm.

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