Time to strike up a conversation with loved ones

West Sussex County Council is urging residents across the county to strike up a conversation with their loved ones about what their wishes would be.

Dying Matters Awareness Week was set up to prompt conversations about what people need to do to get ready, such as making a will, deciding to donate our organs, or discussing future care wishes with a family member, as well how to be ready to help others.

Next week, as part of the awareness drive, West Sussex libraries, including Chichester Library, will be sharing information and resources to prompt people to think about their plans and choices, and to stimulate conversations with their friends and family.

At Chichester Library on Monday, there will be books on display from a range of genres, including adults’ and children’s fiction, death and dying in society, practical manuals, memoir and selfhelp. Information from the county’s hospices will also be available, while hospice volunteers and county council public health staff will also be on hand at the library on Monday.

Anna Raleigh, director of public health at West Sussex County Council, said: “Talking about end of life care can be difficult, but having conversations about what matters to people as they approach the end of their life is the first step in ensuring people can make choices to enable a good death. Our aim is to build compassionate communities across the county, where people are able to have conversations about living and dying well and to support each other in emotional and practical ways in times of crisis and loss.”

For more information on Dying Matters Awareness Weekvisitwww.dyingmatters.org/blog/dying-matters-2019theme-are-we-ready