Last Days Matter – free course open to all (August)

Many people, understandably, feel ill-equipped to deal with the issues around end of life and are concerned that with no clinical knowledge, they will not be able to do what is needed. Many people with life shortening conditions and their families and friends told us that they are nervous about starting difficult conversations, others can feel nervous about looking after their loved ones at home.

The Last Days Matter programme answers many of the questions and concerns patients and families frequently ask. It is a three-hour programme made up of five sessions. Each session focuses on a key topic and includes a short film that follows the experience of someone who has a life-shortening illness and those close to him, as well as discussion time.

The five sessions discuss:

• Planning for the future
• How to care and accompany someone with a life shortening condition
• Saying goodbye
• Recognising the signs of dying
• Negotiating the ‘new normal’ after someone has died

• Please note, due to the subject content this can be a highly emotional session, but is led by staff and volunteers who have undergone training to discuss these topics. Sessions are limited to 8 people to allow for meaningful conversations.

Many thanks to our generous colleagues at St John’s Hospice in Lancaster, who developed this bespoke training, to benefit people and their loved ones at such an important time of their lives.