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Most people think it’s important to talk about end of life care, but few are having the conversation, a study released as part of Palliative Care Week shows.
The survey commissioned by Palliative Care Australia found 85 per cent of Australians think it is vital to have a conversation with loved ones about the type of care they would like to receive at end of life, but only a third of those have done so.
At a local level, palliative care expert and head of Warrnambool and District Community Hospice, Eric Fairbank, is one of those helping turn that around.
Regular end-of-life planning sessions have been held in Warrnambool and the hospice group is making links with other community organisations to spread the word about planning for end of life.
Dr Fairbank said dying was now often a medical event and an individual’s wishes might not be respected, or even known. But with early conversations and planning, Dr Fairbank said people had the chance to live their life to the fullest and die well.
“Plans need to be made before a crisis occurs, they need to be shared appropriately, and there has to be at least one person to speak up for you, if and when the need arises,” he said.
Dr Fairbank said three plans needed to be considered – the end of life care plan, the death plan, and the funeral plan.
“While the task is challenging, even daunting, it is important to get started while you are legally competent, and before capacity might be lost through either illness or accident,” he said.
“A key decision early on is to name the person, or people, who will be prepared to speak and act on your behalf in various roles like the medical enduring power of attorney and executor of the will. Those entrusted with these duties are usually family members or friends.”
Dr Fairbank said there should then be a surrounding “support crew” of other family and friends and health professionals who are also informed of a person’s wishes.
“What matters in the long run are the memories you create for those who are left behind,” he said.
Palliative Care Australia chief executive officer Liz Callaghan said it was important for people to take the time to outline what was important to them.
“One in four Australians have had a family member die in the past 12 months and less than half of those people talked to that person about their end-of-life wishes,” she said.
“Dying is a normal part of life and everyone deserves a positive end-of-life experience.
“It’s important we normalise conversations around death so that people can plan ahead and their families know what they would want if they could no longer talk for themselves.”