CoppaFeel! founder Kris Hallenga on preparing for the end of your life so you can get on with living it
Why? Because when I am busy I feel more like myself.
There’s one particular meeting that I had while I was in London last week that I am desperate to tell you about. It was with a charity called Dignity in Dying.
OK, so it’s not as glam as you might have expected, but stick with me.
I am very pro-hospice care and I have, since the early days, accessed palliative care which, research shows, actually helps people live longer.
Dignity in Dying campaigns for assisted dying laws to change. It also educates people to help them feel in control at the end of their life – AKA Compassion in Dying.
REMIND to 70500.
I vowed to help them get the message out, so I am telling you how important it is to think about what your preferences would be towards the end of your life.
This might be the last thing on your mind and, believe me, at the age of 33 this wasn’t something I thought I’d be thinking about either. But such is life.
Planning ahead means that, if something happens to you, your wishes are known and can be followed.
Research conducted by the charity found that 52 per cent of people want to decide about life-prolonging treatments, while just seven per cent want their doctor to choose for them.
Only one in 25 has made a written statement to refuse specific treatments in the future or given legal permission for a person they trust to make such decisions when they are no longer able to do so themselves.
My biggest concern is my life being prolonged when I have no quality of life – and 91 per cent feel the same way.
After contacting Compassion in Dying, 87 per cent of people tell their family their wishes for treatment and care, and 69 per cent spoke to their doctor.
I think you might do the same.
Once you’ve written those wishes, you can get on with life like I did after our meeting – and that meant an evening of karaoke with mates. Which I can also highly recommend.
See MyDecisions.org.uk for more info.
The site takes you through possible scenarios and prompts you to think about what’s important to you.
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