Dying Matters Week 2026 - Are your affairs in order?

As we approach the end of Dying Matters Awareness Week, we want to take this opportunity to discuss the importance of planning ahead when approaching end of life. These decisions may feel very difficult and like something you would rather avoid but they will give you and your loved ones peace of mind during an otherwise stressful and upsetting time.

Formally documenting your wishes this way makes it clear and simple for your loved ones and those involved in your care to make decisions if you can no longer do so yourself. These documents can be overridden by yourself if you have the capacity to do so. Capacity refers to having the mental capability to make decisions. Capacity is specific to the time of the decision and what the decision is. If there is a situation where you lack capacity or are very unwell and unable to communicate your decisions, then the documents you used to record your wishes will be used.

Planning ahead can feel daunting, there are many ways of documenting your wishes which can feel overwhelming and full of terminology which is hard to understand. Listed below are some of the ways you can make plans for your care and record your wishes.

• Advanced care plan or statement – This is used to record your wishes around treatments and care. Your medical team can support you to make this.
• Advanced decision (living will) – This differs from an advanced care plan as it can be used to refuse medical treatments, including life-saving machines.
• Lasting power of attorney - You (the donor) can give lasting power of attorney to allow one of more recipients (attorneys) on health and wellbeing, property and financial affairs or both. This is a legal document which gives attorney’s permission to make decisions on your behalf when you are unable (lack capacity) to do so.
• Preferred priorities for care document - This is not a legal document but would be taken into account by a medical team. It is a space to document preferences and future end of life care, especially where you want to be cared for. Macmillan Cancer Care provide a free template for you to document your understanding of your disease and priorities of care. This can be shared with people you trust such as family and friends, your GP or a hospital medical team.

It is also important to consider making a will. A will lets you leave a record of what you want to happen to your money, property, and possessions after you have died. It should explain who you want to benefit and in what way, who should look after children under the age of 18 and what happens if the people listed in the will die before you do.

You need to decide who will be executor of the will, the person who will carry out of these wishes on your behalf. You can write a will yourself, but many people get advice about this. A will needs to be witnessed and signed to make it valid and then kept somewhere safe like your bank, with a solicitor or a company who stores wills.

We understand that the idea of making a will can sometimes be slightly daunting. However, it doesn’t have to be a difficult or costly process and once complete you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that your loved ones and the causes you care about will be looked after.

We are delighted to partner with Make A Will Online to offer our supporters the chance to make a will for free. Pledge a gift in your will today and create a future that protects the people you love.

Why leave a gift in your will?