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Film aims to help people talk about death and dying

A new film and booklet will help people have conversations about death and dying, and offer advice on talking to healthcare professionals about their relatives.
Talking About Death and Dying

A new animated film and booklet Let's Talk About Death and Dying, aimed at families and healthcare professionals, has been produced

Talking About Death and Dying
The Let's Talk About Death and Dying film and booklet were funded by the Department of Health

The materials are a response to a survey from Malnutrition Task Force and Age UK, which revealed having conversations around dying and death is still taboo for many people.

The research reveals:

  • Over one third of people are not comfortable bringing up the subject with a relative or close friend. 
  • Two in five people admit they do not know their loved ones’ wishes around dying, such as what their preferred type of burial would be.
  • Additionally, all age groups felt that they had no idea of what may physically happen when people approach the end of life.

Struggle to start a conversation

Age UK head of health influencing and programme head of the Malnutrition Taskforce Lesley Carter said: 'We know that having the confidence to start a conversation about dying and death is very hard.

‘We struggle to find the right time, the right words and we are terrified of upsetting the other person and ourselves.

'We have written this bright well-illustrated book and film to explore this issue with children, adults and professionals. 

‘We’ve explained why it is important to talk about dying and death, given ideas of how you could start a conversation and what you may want to say. 

‘We hope these resources will give you the confidence to give it a go.'

Let’s Talk About Death and Dying: How To Have Difficult Conversations was funded by the Department of Health.


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