Britons more comfortable discussing death

More than half of people in Britain feel more comfortable talking about their own death or that of people close to them than they did five years ago, according to research by ComRes on behalf of the annual Dying Matters Awareness Week.

• Only 1 percent of 18-24-year-olds say they have written a will
• 52 percent agree they have become more comfortable talking about their own death or that of people close to them over last five years
• But only 35 percent say they have made a will
• 45 percent feel talking or thinking about death scares them

Two-thirds (67 percent) of people said they would be happy to help someone they know organise end of life plans. These include planning a funeral, making a will, and arranging advance care plans and lasting power of attorney. 46 percent of people felt they knew where to find information to help someone else or make their own end of life plans.

Most people (61 percent) felt they knew someone among their own family or friends they could discuss their own end of life plans with, as they disagreed that they would have no one to discuss this with.

Nearly half of people (46 percent) said they would consider it a sign of their closeness to someone if that person asked them for help making end of life plans.

25 percent of people believe that a medical breakthrough in the near future will extend their life expectancy significantly. Nearly half (45 percent) admitted that discussing death made it feel closer, and 45 percent that it scared them to some degree, and as many as one in seven (15 percent) feel that talking about death will actually make it happen.

However, although people are still not taking action. Only 35 percent of those polled said they had made a will, the same as in 2015. Just 7 percent of people have written down their wishes for their future care. 30 percent of people say they have not made any of the recommended plans or decisions relating to death and dying.

Claire Henry, Chief Executive of the National Council for Palliative Care and Dying Matters Coalition, said “there is a lot of good news in this survey, along with some things that cause concern. It is good to see that so many people not only feel comfortable talking about death, but also that so many feel increasingly comfortable over time. And it’s encouraging that so many people would be willing to help someone else make end of life plans, and that so many feel they have someone they could go to for help.

“But it is concerning that this talk is not resulting in more action to get our plans and affairs in order. Talking about death is nothing to be scared of, and won’t make it happen. We all need to start to have this Big Conversation as part of the way we plan and prepare for all the important things in life. And words need to be followed by action. We need to talk to our loved ones about what we want, sort our plans out, write them down and make sure people know where to find them. Putting our end of life plans in place enables us to get on with living. It takes a weight off our minds, and makes things easier for those we love as well.”

Dying Matters Awareness Week runs from May 9-15, with daily Twitter chats throughout the week, using the hashtag #BigConversation. For more information, visit the Dying Matters website.