South Australian villages operator ECH launched a campaign around people’s right to die at home after figures revealed Australia has one of the lowest rates in the world of people over 70 getting to die in their own home.
According to the Productivity Commission, 70% of people want to die at home but only 10% of people aged over 70 get to experience that wish.
Enabling Confidence at Home (ECH) Chief Executive Dr David Panter said part of having a good life was being able to have a good death.
“Death has become clinical and medicalised and all too often older people don’t feel able to plan for a good death,” Dr Panter said.
The Not For Profit organisation said the lack of people over 70 getting to die at home was putting strain on hospitals and the health care system in general and is contrary to what many people wanted.
ECH, who have 1,838 independent living units in South Australia, is encouraging people to have open conversations with elderly family members about what they want when it comes to their death.
“Communicating your wishes not only prepares you for your own future but can also enable those around you to speak freely so that when the time comes, everyone can feel more prepared,” Dr Panter said.
