It can be hard to find the right words at such a sensitive time but to not speak honestly, openly and in a timely way to individuals and families can have consequences. It can prevent people having discussions about their wishes in their final weeks/months, and stop people sorting out their affairs and having important conversations.
This year, Dying Matters Awareness Week will take place from 5-11 May and focuses on the culture of Dying Matters.
Webinars
We will be hosting at least three online webinars during the week, focusing on cultural awareness in dying matters.
Webinar: Launch session 'The Culture of Death and Dying' - Tuesday 6 May, 1-2pm - Register here
In the first of these, ELFT's Chief Nurse Claire McKenna will welcome all staff to the start of Dying Matters Awareness Week. This session will cover the importance of 2025's theme, 'The Culture of Dying Matters', breaking down the stigma and taboo of talking about death and dying, while looking at good practice, and offer people the chance to share their culture and traditions around death and dying.
Webinar: Learning disabilities and dying matters - Wednesday 7 May, 1-2pm - Register here
The team will look at palliative care for people with learning disabilities, reasonable adjustments and support that learning disability services can give patients and colleagues in District Nurse teams. They will also touch upon the LeDeR programme and referral pathways.
Webinar: Cultural awareness in dying matters - Thursday 8 May, 1-2pm - Register here
Practice Development Nurse Rahma Abdalla will talk about the Dying Matters Conference held in the East London Mosque in collaboration with ELFT in 2024. There will be a chance to hear about ELFT QI project on the use of interpreters in death and dying.
Events to Mark Dying Matters Awareness Week
Sue Ryder (Online or In-person) 'Hindu cultural perspectives on dying'
Wednesday 7 May from 2-3.30pm
Join Kishor Ladwa and colleagues from Bharat Hindu Samaj Mandir Temple at Thorpe Hall Education Room (Thorpe Hall Hospice, Longthorpe, Peterborough PE3 6LW) and online. You can register your interest by filling out the form here. A joining link will be sent to those who have registered in advance of the session.
Keech Hospice Luton (In-person)
Wednesday 7 May from 6-8pm
Join Keech Hospice at the Fountain Suite for a powerful play and live production based on a true story of one family's struggle to get the care their elderly parents needed. Book your free tickets on EventBrite from the QR code link here.
Keech Hospice Luton (Online) 'Sitting with you in uncertainty'
Thursday 8 May from 6.30-8pm
Hear from guest speaker Sarah Dowd, Head of Inclusion and Safeguarding Lead, in this masterclass on navigating the unknown. Register your place on Zoom here from the QR code link, or contact the team via email on learning@keech.org.uk, or via telephone on 01582 497898.
