Health Services Must Provide A Good Quality Of Death, Not Just Life

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Also Included In: Primary Care / General Practice
Article Date: 13 Mar 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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Help the Aged responded to the news that there is overwhelming public support for a law allowing medically assisted dying for the terminally ill.

Paul Cann, Director of Policy and External Relations at Help the Aged said: "Death is unavoidable - but what is avoidable is the undignified and impersonal way in which many older people die in this country.

"Choices must be available for older people known to be dying so they can have the kind of death they would prefer. It's vital that policies are set in place and followed. Health and care services must concentrate not only maximising quality of life for the living but also on providing a good quality of death too.

"Current taboos around death and dying mean that older people are too often not consulted on their preferences, with many health professionals not geared up to meet their emotional needs and provide comfort.

"As the Government plans its new end-of-life strategy, Help the Aged hopes that even greater attention will be devoted to ensuring that the final period of life is not marred by poor support and a lack of dignity.

"Help the Aged believes that the current ban on euthanasia and physician assisted suicide is designed to protect the most vulnerable members of our society. As both are currently illegal in the UK, we are not in favour of a change in the law, but are focusing on researching older people's experiences at the end of their lives to gain a better understanding of the difficulties they face. While we welcome debate which shows society is becoming more sophisticated in facing up to these questions, we would not support changes in legislation in assisted dying."

Notes

* A survey conducted by YouGov for Dignity in Dying found that more than three-quarters (76%) of those questioned agreed or strongly agreed that terminally ill people should be allowed medical help to die.

Help the Aged is currently campaigning to secure a change in the law to outlaw age discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities and services. Please visit http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/Campaigns/ for information about 'Just Equal Treatment'.

Right care, Right deal' is the new national campaign launched to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system. With the Government indicating that social care is an urgent political priority, and in advance of the expected green paper later in 2008, the campaign combines three of the UK's largest charities working with and for older people and their families and carers, and will urge the government to renew its vision for the future of social care in England. Visit http://www.rightcare.org.uk.

Help the Aged is the charity fighting to free disadvantaged older people in the UK and overseas from poverty, isolation, neglect and ageism. It campaigns to raise public awareness of the issues affecting older people and to bring about policy change. The Charity delivers a range of services: information and advice, home support and community living, including international development work. These are supported by its paid-for services and fundraising activities - which aim to increase funding in the future to respond to the growing unmet needs of disadvantaged older people. Help the Aged also funds vital research into the health issues and experiences of older people to improve the quality of later life.

Help the Aged urgently needs donations and support to help it in the increasingly challenging fight to free disadvantaged older people from poverty, isolation and neglect.

Help the Aged