Families must start breaking this taboo

A NEW campaign from Independent Age, the older people’s charity, is called ‘We need to talk about death.’

Many people struggle to talk about death and final wishes, and we think it would be helpful if everyone could be more open and share their final wishes earlier, so their later years can be filled with positivity, rather than awkward conversations.

Death is an incredibly emotive topic and, unsurprisingly, people don’t always know how to broach the subject. The older you get, the more aware you become of death and, according to our recent research, older people do want to talk about death, but their adult children often feel uncomfortable about it.

We believe it’s really important for families to start breaking the taboo, so they can feel prepared for the eventualities of life.

As a nation, we need to start embracing these conversations. It’s time to take action, be brave and talk about death, and we want Wales residents to join us.

You can find out more about our campaign, watch our new film, and get tips on how to start the conversation by visiting independentage.org/ TalkAboutDeath, or by searching #TalkAboutDeath on Twitter. If you would like to speak to someone about planning for the end of life or the practical side of coping with a bereavement, call our free helpline on 0800 319 6789. Janet Morrison CEO, Independent Age