Monday 18 May 2015. 92% of our patients at the ends of their lives over the last 12 months have been able to die where they want to (usually at home). This is more than double than the 44.5% of people nationally who are able to die in their ‘usual place of residence’ (usually home or a care home).
Our Community and Hospice Home Nursing Service has been providing 24/7 palliative care and support through a two-year partnership between CSH Surrey and two local hospices (Princess Alice and St Catherine’s Hospices). In 2014, the partnership was recognised nationally by reaching the finals of the ‘Team of the Year’ category in the annual Nursing Times awards.
According to NHS England (Actions for End of Life Care: 2014-16), over 60% of people (including those who were not facing life-threatening illness at the time) would prefer to die at home. Nationally, 35% of older people who want to die at home end up dying in hospital.
The daughter of a patient with dementia and cancer who was recently supported by our CHHNS service says: “The service was fantastic and made it possible for mum to be at home in familiar surroundings for as long as possible. They cared for me as well as mum, giving me emotional support and the confidence to keep mum at home where she wanted to be. They treated mum with such care, respect and dignity, and were very professional and experienced. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”
18-24th May marks national Dying Awareness Week. Their campaign, ‘Talk.Plan.Live!’ encourages us all to have conversations about dying and make plans to ensure our end of life wishes are met – whatever our age.
Karen Masetti, CSH Surrey’s Head of Quality and Nursing and its End of Life Care Lead says: “Our nurses’ achievements are exceptional, and it is down to their hard work and dedication, day after day, week after week. This month they will be starting to use ‘Planning Future Care Wishes' in their advance care planning with patients and their families to help document the patient’s end of life care wishes. We’re also encouraging all of our staff to have a conversation about death and dying as it’s never too early to talk about and plan for the future so you can live life to the full with peace of mind. As Dying Matters say, YODO – You Only Die Once – so make it the end of life experience you want.”
New research for Dying Matters released today finds that although the majority of us think it is more acceptable to talk about dying now than it was 10 years ago, discussing dying and making end of life plans remains a taboo, as a majority think that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement.
The research found:
- Although a third of British adults (32%) think about dying and death at least once a week, 72% of the public believe that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement
- Only 35% of the public say they have written a Will; 32% have registered as an organ donor or have a donor card; 31% have taken out life insurance; 27% have talked to someone about their funeral wishes and 7% have written down their wishes or preferences about their future care, should they be unable to make decisions for themselves
- Just 18% of British adults say they have asked a family member about their end of life wishes
- Among parents who had children under 18 living with them, less than a third (28%) say they had written a Will, risking wishes about who would look after the children and inheritance not being met. Just 40% of parents who had children under 18 living with them said they had ever taken out life insurance
- Despite this failure to talk about dying and plan ahead, 71% of the public agree that if people in Britain felt more comfortable discussing dying, death and bereavement it would be easier to have our end of life wishes met.
During Dying Awareness Week CSH Surrey suggests five simple steps to make our end of life experience better, both for us and for our loved ones. These are:
- Write your will
- Record your funeral wishes
- Plan your future care and support
- Consider registering as an organ donor
- Tell your loved ones your wishes.