What Needs to Happen?
Talking about death does not make it happen sooner. People need to talk to their loved ones about their end-of-life wishes. It is easier to have these conversations when the person is well. There is a need for a national campaign to increase awareness and access to resources that promote conversations regarding death and end-of-life wishes. Access to supports that involve people in the decisions that impact on their health, wellbeing and recognise their will and preferences is essential. A Register of Advance Healthcare Directives can ensure that preferences are clearly documented and easily accessible to healthcare professionals when important decisions need to be made. This is currently not available in Ireland ; the Minister for Health has the power to make regulations to provide for this Register and needs to make this a priority.
How Irish Hospice Foundation is Making a Difference
We support people to talk about death and dying and enable people to consider their wishes in preparing for death and to document them. We pursue research that facilitates supporting conversations about death in society. This research captures the concerns and obstacles that face the public in this space. Irish Hospice Foundation has a range of supports to facilitate this focus, they include: • Our Think Ahead Planning Pack to document wishes and preferences on care and dying and support conversations with loved ones. • We operate an Information and Support Line to signpost people to end-of-life and palliative care services and resources for advance care planning. • We provide a wide range of resources, training courses and booklets to support increased death literacy and knowledge of end-of-life care. • We support and facilitate communities of all type to develop a culture of compassion.
Want to know more about advance care planning and how to get started with documenting your healthcare choices and personal wishes? Visit thinkahead.ie for a range of resources to help you start to think about your preferences for end of life.
My Advance Healthcare Directive
Think Ahead Planning Pack
My Personal Wishes & Care Plan
A place to record your preferences and choices for your future care through illness, end of life and after death
Think about your future
Talk with others about your options
Tell them what you decide
Think about your future
Talk with others about your options
Tell them what you decide
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Dying, Death and Bereavement in Ireland 2026
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