Unnecessary harm is caused because people in Scotland are not
open about death, dying and bereavement. For example: - People
who are dying or bereaved can experience isolation because
people don't know what to say or how to act towards them -
People die without wills, leaving complicated situations for
their families and friends - Health care professionals struggle
to have conversations with their patients about what care or
treatments they want as they approach death. This makes it hard
to plan the care that a person really wants - If the fact that
someone is dying is not acknowledged then opportunities to
resolve issues and say goodbye may be missed What can be done to
help? We believe that there are actions which people can take to
help avoid these harms. For example, they could: - Make a will -
Do a power of attorney - Ask their partner if he/she wants to do
a power of attorney - Bring up their children in a way which
doesn't hide death - Allow their aging parents/partner to tell
them about their worries