We organized a survey among the general public and healthcare professionals on attitudes and experiences with death and dying in the Czech Republic. For the survey results, visit umirani.cz/data (in Czech).
78 % of the respondents wish to die at home – this is the same percentage of the population that actually die in palliative care centres or hospitals.
63 % of the respondents would start making the important decisions related to the end of their life only once they have become seriously or terminally ill.
Just two in five of the respondents have ever talked about their end-of-life preferences or wishes with anyone.
Death is far away. It’s bad luck to talk about it. It’s an unpleasant topic.
Those are the main reasons that keep us from discussing death with our loved ones. Regrettably, the survey also shows that people often do not talk about death because they don’t have anyone to speak to. Do not be afraid to talk about dying.
A public poll from May 2014, arranged by the UK organization Dying Matters, shows that even people in the Great Britain rarely plan for the end of their lives or know the last wishes of their loved ones.
83 % of the public believe that people in Britain are uncomfortable discussing dying and death.
51 % of those with a partner say they are unaware of their end of life wishes.
Only 36 % Only 36% of adults have written a will, 29 % of people have let someone know their funeral wishes and just 6 % of the public have written down their wishes or preferences about their future care, should they be unable to make decisions for themselves.
“What we know is that obviously we aregoing to die, but how we dieis actually really important, obviously not just to us, but also to how that features in the lives of all the people who live on afterwards.”