Dying to Talk; Talking About Dying Won’t Kill You

"Talking about dying is the last taboo, but Australians need to break it to ensure they die well, and those closest to them know what their wishes are and what care they want," says Palliative Care Australia CEO, Liz Callaghan.  

“It’s a tough conversation, and we do not shy away from the fact it is a sad talk to have, but it is necessary. Without knowing what our loved ones want we cannot advocate for it on their behalf. It means more people will to live in the way they want until the end, with the help of palliative care. 

“In Australia we prepare for births. We encourage families to have a birth plan and to prepare for the process of birth – but we ignore the other side of the birth coin, death. 

“We know most Aussies (70%) want to die at home, but that one in two deaths occur in hospital. If we do not make our wishes known to those close to us, how will they know to ask for things such as home or community care?” Ms Callaghan said. 

This National Palliative Care Week, Australians are encouraged to discuss death and dying and their wishes for end of life. 

“Everyone needs to be an advocate for palliative care. It touches all of us at one point in our lives, as a carer or a patient or friend. It is an essential part of our health system," said Ms Callaghan.  

Palliative care is not just for those who are close to the end of their lives, but can be accessed from diagnosis to help people live well for as long as they can.  

Palliative care offers many things, including pain and symptom management, to give people as much time as possible as they live with their life limiting illness. Palliative care isn’t just for the individual but also supports those people like carers and friends and family and takes care of the whole person. 

“Early palliative care has been proven in some circumstances to add years to life as well as life to years for some cancer groups. While it is not the cure that everyone always hopes for, managing pain and psychosocial support for the very ill is very important,” Ms Callaghan said.