Various problems are caused in Scotland because:
- People are unprepared for the
experiences of death, dying and bereavement.
- Communities are disempowered
from providing support to people who are dying or bereaved.
- Health and social care
professionals, individuals and families are unprepared for death-related
discussions.
For example:
- People who are dying or
bereaved can experience isolation because people don't know what to say or how
to act towards them.
- People may die without wills,
leaving complicated situations for their families and friends.
- Health care professionals often
struggle to have conversations with people about what care or treatments they
want as they approach death. This makes it hard to plan the care that a person
really wants.
- If the fact that someone is
dying is not acknowledged then opportunities to resolve issues and say goodbye
may be missed.
Facts and figures
- 56,000 people die annually in Scotland. Of these
it is estimated that as many as 46,000 people will have needs arising from
living with deteriorating health for years, months or weeks before they die.
- 29% of all acute hospital bed days are used by
patients in their last year of life. Nearly 1 in 10 patients in hospital will
die during their current admission and 54% of deaths take place in hospital.
- Older people who haven’t made a power of
attorney may end up stuck in hospital and unable to be discharged. This
costs the NHS over £17 million a
year and can cause huge distress for people and their families.
- 60% of Scots die without making a will, leaving
potential for family conflict and financial and legal complications.
- Most people don’t plan for funeral costs.
But the average cost of a funeral in Scotland is now over £4,000 and funeral
debt is rocketing.
Importance of talking and planning
Planning ahead maximises the chances of having a
good, dignified death and makes it easier for those who are left behind. It
avoids some of the potential harms listed above.
Without talking and planning people nearing the
end of life may undergo futile and aggressive medical interventions at the
expense of quality of life. It is important for people to discuss and record
what they would or would not want to happen if they were unable to speak for
themselves so that those around them can make informed decisions in line with
those wishes.
Family and friends left to make funeral
arrangements are helped by knowing what the deceased would have wanted to
happen.
