Events in Rochdale

Dying Matters Awareness Week

The borough’s Macmillan and Specialist Palliative Care Team are taking part in a ground-breaking week to talk to the public about death and dying.

The Dying Matters Awareness Week will run from 15th to 21st March to raise awareness of the delicate issues surrounding death and bereavement. Staff from Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Community Healthcare, Springhill Hospice, Rochdale Adult Care Services and Rochdale Multi-Faith Partnership will be holding a community event on 17th March at Morrisons, Heywood from 10am to 3pm and on 18th March on The Butts, Rochdale Town Centre, from 10am to 3pm.

Janice Sedgwick, Lead Cancer and Palliative Care Nurse, commented: “We will be available to help anyone who wants advice, information and support about how to start those difficult conversations about dying. We can also offer practical advice about making decisions on healthcare and end of life care planning.”

A national survey conducted for the first Dying Matters awareness week found that less than a third (29%) of people have discussed their wishes around dying and only 4% have written advance care plans, despite the fact that more than two thirds (68%) of people questioned say they are comfortable talking about death. This conundrum really matters, as 70% of us also say we want to die at home, yet 60% currently die in hospitals.

The new Dying Matters Coalition has been set up to raise awareness and to provide the support and information needed to have these conversations with loved ones. It aims to make dying well a natural part of a good life and through this help change attitudes and behaviours towards death, dying and bereavement. This will raise the profile and improve end of life care.

Date/Time:

17 March 2010-18 March 2010
10.00am - 3.00pm

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