As part of annual Dying Matters awareness week, Medway residents are being encouraged to talk about their end-of-life wishes – ranging from where they want to die, to what colours should be worn at their funeral.

The campaign aims to break down the fear and taboo associated with death and bereavement, and get people talking more openly.

As a way of getting people talking about end-of-life care, Medway clinical commissioning group (CCG) has installed “Before I die” and “After I die” boards for staff and patients to write their comments on.

“The boards, which can be found in participating workplaces, encourage people to write down one personal
wish for themselves to fulfil before they die, and another for loved ones to fulfil after they’ve gone.

Caroline Selkirk, from Medway CCG, said: “We all have something we would like to achieve before we die, from climbing Everest to meeting our first grandchild.

“However, in order to make the end of our lives easier for us and those we love, it’s important we consider a time after we have gone, which is why these boards include a space for what we would like to happen after our death – the aim being to get the conversation started and break the taboo around this inevitable fact of life.”

Some of the requests made by CCG staff include asking friends to have a drink once a year in remembrance, a favourite song for their funeral, and their family visiting their favourite restaurant.

Caroline added: “It’s good to see so many positive ideas already put forward, helping those left behind to remember and
celebrate their loved ones, while acknowledging life goes on.

“By talking about death and dying, it should become easier for all of us to face and cope with it in the future.”

Two events will take place at Rochester’s Wisdom Hospice on Thursday this week – there is an end-of-life workshop at the education centre from 10am until noon, and a general information day for the public from noon.

Dying Matters week runs from today (Monday).

For more information, visit www.medwayccg.nhs.uk or www.dyingmatters.org