Health experts and caregivers are calling for more open conversations about dying to improve end-of-life care for patients. Hospice UK, a charity that provides end-of-life care and support, has begun a week-long campaign to raise awareness about how language affects attitudes towards death. While end-of-life carer Abi Vance believes that normalising death and dying can help people process the experience, clinical team manager Laura Hugman noted that the topic remains taboo and that people are often reluctant to talk about it.
Vance has called for more discussions and information surrounding end-of-life care. She suggests that having a better understanding of topics such as sedation and terminal agitation could have helped her terminally ill friend make different decisions about her care. While Vance believes in the importance of practical help, she argues that navigating end-of-life care information is just as important.
Consultant in palliative medicine Mark Taubert recommends gently letting patients know what they can expect in the final days of their lives, as well as planning to provide better care. Taubert believes that improved language and messaging can make a significant difference for patients. While different patients and families require individual care, Taubert suggests that having an end-of-life palliative care personal assistant can help.
Hospice at Home nursing team Tŷ Paul Sartori offers respite visits, nutrition and mobility information, and manages pain relief for end-of-life patients. The team aims to have open conversations with caregivers while respecting their need for privacy and understanding. The charity and caregivers want to improve end-of-life care and information for patients and their families in the UK by encouraging more open and honest conversations about dying
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