Dying Matters Week 2-6 May 2022
- None of us likes to think about death, but talking about it won’t make it happen
Reading is marking Dying Matters Week 2022 by hosting a series of events and asking residents to talk more openly about dying, grief, bereavement and planning ahead.
Dying Matters Week is about helping residents to plan ahead and think about their wishes. This can include things like being in the best place possible when you die and planning; how and where you will die; who you would like with you; and what care and support you would like in place.
A number of local organisations are working together to support Dying Matters Week in Reading this year, which concludes on Friday 6 May with an Information and Advice Pop-up event on Broad Street which will be opened by Reading’s Mayor at 11am. Representatives from Sue Ryder, Healthwatch Reading, Blandy and Blandy Solicitors, Reading Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing Team and the Hospital Palliative Care Team at the Royal Berkshire Hospital will be available to discuss topics relating to death, dying and bereavement - to help you and your loved ones explore what a ‘good place’ might look like.
Becky Pollard Interim Consultant Public Health, Reading Borough Council said “We know this is a difficult subject to think about, but we want to help people talk openly about dying and grief, and plan for the end of life. People are dying without the emotional and practical support they need or want which is what we want to help people avoid."
“We can all use Dying Matters Week as an opportunity to have important conversations about how we want to end our story, we only get one chance to get this right. The important message is don’t leave it too late – tell your loved ones about your wishes."
“There are many events taking place across the town during the week, none of us likes to think about death, but talking about it won’t make it happen, start those conversations with your loved ones this Dying Matters Week.”
Events include; coping with grief workshops from Compass Recovery College, a walk with Sue Ryder Duchess of Kent Hospice, an open morning at Reading Crematorium, financial planning with Goodall Smith Wealth Management and Dexter Montague Solicitors and funeral planning information from Miles and Daughters.