You only die once: Dying Matters week returns
Dying Matters Awareness Week will return 9-15 May, with the theme ‘The Big Conversation’ to promote the importance of talking more openly about planning ahead.
According to Dying Matters, 71% of the public agreed that if people felt more comfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement it would be easier to have their end of life wishes met.
A number of resources are available online to help promote the campaign, including posters and community packs for those hosting an event. Anyone who simply wants to support the Awareness Week can also benefit from marketing materials, branded t-shirts, DVDs and a Twitter banner.
Once again, people and companies, including Golden Charter, are likely to be talking about Dying Matters online during the week, especially on Twitter using the #YODO (“you only die once”) hashtag.
Dying Matters week aims to reinforce that “talking about dying won’t make it happen”, and has provided these tips:
• You don’t have to be ill or dying to talk about it and to put plans in place
• You may find it easiest to start talking about what you wouldn’t want rather than what you do want
• Talking about dying doesn’t have to be depressing, and humour can be a real help
• There is every chance you will be relieved to have had the conversation
• Don’t let being worried about saying the wrong thing stop you from being there for people who are terminally ill or who have been bereaved.