8th-14th May 2017 is awareness week for Dying Matters, a coalition of 32,000 members across England and Wales which aims to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement and to make plans for the end of life.

This year, Dying Matters is asking everybody a simple question "What Can You Do?". Talking and planning ahead for dying, death and bereavement is really important, but people also need practical help and support.

Changes in the way society views dying and death have impacted on the experience of people who are dying and bereaved. Our lack of openness has affected the quality and range of support and care services available to patients and families. It has also affected our ability to die where or how we would wish.

The Dying Matters Coalition is working to address this by encouraging people to talk about their wishes towards the end of their lives, including where they want to die and their funeral plans with friends, family and loved ones.

Katy Shakeshaft, Solicitor at Blackhurst Budd comments:

“A significant part of planning for the future is making a Will, yet less than half of UK adults currently have one in place. Without a Will you have no control over what happens to your assets, but more importantly for people with children or pets, if you don’t leave a Will then there is no record of your wishes and no binding legal document that requires those wishes to be carried out. While many of us avoid the question of making a Will because we don’t want to think about death, it can actually be an enormous relief to know that those you love will be taken care of when you go.”