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 give you 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:
- telling others you love them.
- leaving a legacy about your life
- passing on thanks, forgiveness or saying sorry
- making your wishes and what is important known, for both you and to make things easier for 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? Use 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
Add the Friends & Family info at the front of your folder so they know what to do and where to get support from.
“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
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 the Barbie’s Bill petition. It has been supported by two Select Committees and has led to the Advance Directives Bill, with the aim of this being presented in the next parlimentary term for Parliament to vote on.
After their experience, Louise created the Dying Well NZ website to bring together as much information as possible to give people tools to talk about and plan for dying and late life care.
Appreciation and thanks to site editor Wendyl Nissen, who 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