This week, between 5 – 11 May, is Dying Matters Awareness Week – and Rowcroft’s Education Team is embracing the opportunity to encourage open conversations around death, dying and bereavement. This year’s theme, the culture of dying, invites us to reflect on how we approach the end of life. Rowcroft is proud to be at the forefront of this cultural shift in communication, and is playing an active role in promoting these crucial conversations.
Raising awareness through the End-of-Life Care Ambassadors Programme
Catherine Hughes, Education Facilitator at Rowcroft Hospice, highlighted how we’ve been encouraging conversations around death, dying and bereavement:
“One of the ways that we’ve been supporting these conversations is through our End-of-Life Care Ambassadors Programme, which we run in partnership with Torbay Hospital. Since 2018, this initiative has empowered participants – a mix of health and social care professionals – to raise awareness of end-of-life issues in their workplaces. This helps to create more open and supportive environments for conversations about death and dying.
“A total of 73 ambassadors have already taken part in the course, organising a variety of events, ranging from coffee mornings and informative articles to creating boards in staff rooms to encourage dialogue. The course’s impact has been felt across Torbay and South Devon, and now, with 20 ambassadors in the current cohort, we’re seeing even more efforts to bring these conversations to the forefront in places such as hospitals, care homes, cafes, allotments and in day-to-day interactions with colleagues, patients, and loved ones.
“Research shows that patients often wait for healthcare providers to start the conversation about death and dying. The End-of-Life Care Ambassadors Programme equips participants with these vital communication skills, helping them feel more confident when it comes to approaching these sensitive subjects. By empowering ambassadors with the tools and communication training they need, we are helping to ensure that important conversations are happening across our community.
“Each ambassador is now playing a role in sowing the seeds of these important conversations throughout Torbay and South Devon, creating a movement of people dedicated to making sure that death and dying are discussed with the respect and understanding they deserve.”
Digital Legacy Workshop
As part of Dying Matters Week, Rowcroft’s Education Team is hosting a Digital planning: Helping others to plan/prepare learning event on Tuesday 6 May, designed to support healthcare professionals in feeling more comfortable when having conversations with patients and families about their end-of-life wishes. It’s an important step in ensuring that everyone involved in end-of-life care is equipped and supported in navigating this sensitive topic.
Find out more and book your place
If you’re interested in learning more about becoming an End-of-Life Care Ambassador, or to find out more about Rowcroft’s Education Team, please visit our Education and Learning hub.