29 million do not have funeral plans in order, Co-op finds

Approximately 29 million people are at risk of not having their affairs in order when they die, due to a reluctance in discussing their own funeral wishes with their loved ones, new research by Co-op Funeralcare has found. According to the retailer’s Planning for Death report, some 22% of people think about their own death as regularly as once a week, while 55% are doing so monthly. The study, which collected the views of over 16,000 UK adults and 18,000 Co-op member owners, found that only 45% of people have openly talked about their funeral wishes with loved ones. Co-op’s report also revealed that just 33% are comfortable with and have talked to loved ones about their own death, while 12% said they were not comfortable and would not discuss it at all. As a result, the retailer has encouraged everyone to talk to loved ones about their funeral wishes to “avoid the emotional burden of not knowing how their loved one would want to be remembered”. Despite half of the nation having thoughts about their own mortality before the age of 20, only 45% have discussed their funeral wishes with those close to them. According to Co-op, 72% of people haven’t made a will, with half 51% saying this is because ‘they haven’t got round to it yet’. Similarly, 79% don’t have life insurance, with 25% saying they don’t need it. In response to the findings, Co-op has launched a dedicated website with resources and information to help remove the stigma surrounding death and encourage open conversations about funeral wishes and later life planning. Gill Stewart, MD of Co-op Funeralcare, said: "The findings of our research, taken from across the UK, and including the experiences of our Co-op member owners, reveals the variety of triggers that can spark thoughts about mortality, from personal experiences, milestone moments to global events played out in the news. "Despite this, our findings highlight a real missing link between thinking, talking and even planning. It can be uncomfortable to discuss planning for death and funerals with loved ones, especially for fear of upsetting them – but we believe this is precisely why those conversations are crucial.” He added: "Putting in place funeral plans, life insurance, a will or even a Lasting Power of Attorney, can go a long way in safeguarding loved ones when the time comes. That's why we really encourage people to have open and honest conversations about their wishes with loved ones." Andrew Judd, CEO of NAFD, said: “This valuable insight from Co-op Funeralcare demonstrates that we still have some way to go in the UK to get those important conversations started. “The NAFD and its members have long tried to encourage people to get this important piece of ‘life admin’ done, in order to be able to get on and live their lives – secure in the knowledge that their wishes, and those of the people who will miss them, are clear and planned for.”