Why do we need clear communication at end of life?
Clear communication is crucial at end of life, the People’s Charter on Dying, Death and Bereavement 10 highlights the importance that people place on having information to help them understand what is happening to them.
A national survey showed that the majority of people who died were not told by a healthcare professional that they were likely to die 11 .
“The communication with medical staff was not what I would have expected there were mixed messages about my mother’s prognosis. If I had truly understood how unwell she was I would have taken off more time from work to be with her.” Mother, died age 70–79, in Hospital, County Dublin “The doctors’ communication with family was poor. They did not advise us that my Dad was so ill and was at end of life and I feel they knew his prognosis and did not communicate this to us until the very end, which led to our family being in shock and not being able to say everything we wanted to say to our dad before he died.” Father, died age 70–79, in Hospital, County Dublin
Was your relative or friend
told by a healthcare professional that they were likely to die?
65% No 35% Yes
Why do Conversations about Death Matter?
Many people find discussions about dying and death uncomfortable. However, engaging in these conversations can support a person’s wishes to be respected and may spare loved ones unnecessary stress during a challenging time. However, our data shows that people are not planning and meaningfully discussing their end-of-life wishes.
12
Irish Hospice Foundation
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