DYING WELL IS PART OF LIVING WELL
Let’s Talk About Dying
Death is an important and natural part of life, and dying well means something different to all of us.
Like many things finding out more, writing your thoughts down and talking openly helps.
Dying Well starts this off - to make things simpler, take away the unexpected, make your voice heard and bring a sense of peace.
Dying Well
Sometimes it’s just knowing where to begin. That depends on what dying well means to you. Find out more below to see what’s important to you and those around you.
Planning
When to Do This
Dying Well planning is for everyone. For those who are well and unwell, who are younger and older, for yourself and for those around you.
Why Do This
Dying Well is about the things people want at the end of their life. Have you…
- told others you love them.
- passed on your thanks, forgiveness, regrets or said sorry.
- left a legacy and be sure your life had meaning.
- made your wishes known about what is important to you to make things easier for your loved ones.
Remember
Eight out of ten Kiwis will not die suddenly. My Care makes sure your voice and choices are heard and followed if needed, while comforting others.
Starting Off
Where to start? Get a folder, so it’s easy to update. Print the cover pages to create clear sections & use this checklist to complete the folder and pages. Print off as many of each page as you need.
For Those Around You
Not sure what they should do & where they could get support? Add the Friends & Family info at the front of your folder.
“It’s so nice not to have to make decisions but actually have the voice of your loved one telling you what is important to them.”
Jane Goodwin, NZ Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission
MY FOLDER COVER PAGES
LET’S TALK ABOUT DYING
“It’s a plan that’s been designed by me, not by my doctors, not by my children, but by me.”
Arthur Te Anini
MY WISHES & PERSONAL INFO
CELEBRATING MY LIFE
MY CARE
“Planning is the best gift you can give your children. Preparing useful information like passwords, an advance directive and an up to date will can make a big difference.”
Wendyl Nissen
MY STORY
FAMILY & FRIENDS
About
“We didn't know until later that without the care given, she would not have survived. She could have had a controlled, medicated passing if the hospital had followed her advance directive instead of all the pain and suffering she had to put herself through.”
Louise Duffy’s mother Barbie died in 2022 after her advance directive was not followed by medical teams. Despite this her directive gave the family a lot of comfort during a difficult time.
To improve things, Louise did Barbie’s Bill a petition which led to the Parlimentary Petitions & Health Select Committees reviewing the need for a more effective directive system in NZ.
Louise created the Dying Well NZ website to give people the tools they need to talk about and plan for dying and late life care.
Appreciation and thanks to site editor Wendyl Nissen, who also had the idea for a site like this, our legal advisor Greg Martin of Arrowsmith Law and the site’s medical reviewer, Dr Alison Payne.
UNSPLASH PHOTO CREDITS
Homepage - David Garcia | Let’s Talk - Donald Teel & Katsiaryna Endruszkiewicz | My Personal Info & Wishes - Daniel Lara | My Care - Michael Thomson | My Story - Raymond Pang & Naitan (Tony) Wang