The concept of 'dying well' was discussed during a meeting of elderly people in Reading.
The Older People's Working Group is a forum facilitated by Reading Borough Council help elderly residents find out about local services, have a say about how these are run, and raise topics which matter to them.
The topic of 'Dying Well' was raised in a presentation during the latest meeting of the group.
The council's adult social care department and its partners are running a series of webinars to provide support for people who are nearing the end of their lives, and to explain what preparations they can make.
The subject of dying well prompted chuckles when it was introduced at the meeting on Friday, February 6.
Beverley Nicholson, an integration manager at the council's adult social care department, explained that the concept is being devised by health practitioners to help people prepare for their passing.
Introducing the topic, she said: “I know this can be a tricky subject, it's going to happen for all of us! It feeds into wider work from the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West (BOB) Integrated Care Board (ICB).
“Our first webinar was around faith. We've been getting feedback in the webinars, including on what enables good care.
“Sue Ryder are running focus groups, and is aligning questions with those of the council, enabling people to share their stories, what was really good and what could be better.
“We've got a finite amount of funding, so we want to make it count. The next webinar is about the practical aspects of support.”
Mrs Nicholson went on to explain that the 'trigger' for the initiative was the observed numbers of elderly people dying in A&E and hospital wards, which may not be a person's preferred place of death.
Gordon Summer, a member of the group, asked about what the adult social care department and its partner organisation Sue Ryder feels about assisted dying.
Mrs Nicholson simply answered that hospices provide crucial end-of-life care.
Mr Summer replied: “All I hope is I don't die in pain.”
He added that being in agony is not a good way to die.
Someone also mentioned 'leaving this earth by returning to the earth' through a natural or green burial method.
Public burials are held at Henley Cemetery and Crematorium, with the cost of burials varying for full-body and cremation burials, with higher fees for non-residents.
Councillor Andrew Hornsby-Smith (Labour, Church) said he found the government website 'what to do when someone dies' helpful following the death of his mother.
The website is structured as a step-by-step guide, which includes registering the death, telling the government about the death and checking for bereavement benefits and support services.
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