Jacqui’s work is helping people to talk about dying.

Hello there it’s Jacqui. I went to the launch of the leaflet that I’ve collaborated with Polly Pizer with, ‘let’s talk about death shall we?’ and we [inaudible] leaflet to help to start the conversation about talking about death. So that we can, give it to people, who we see or that the doctors can use or the medical profession.
It’s really just to start a conversation so that we talk about death and we then sit with our families or medical profession and write down what our choices are about when we die.

When I went on the In Two Minds course at The Meadows in Stockport, there, the last section they had was about your power of attorney and I said and ‘what about your funeral plans?’ ‘Oh no we don’t know how to talk to people about it. ‘
So that’s why I was very keep when Rachel asked if I would be with Polly Pizer and the springboard group in dementia. That they would then we would put together a little leaflet because even the doctors find it difficult to bring the subject up because doctors are there to make us better.

And so I was there for the launch and I was really happy that so many people came. Doctors, care homes, everybody came. And it was at the Oldham Civic Center. Well I went in dying for a loo and went into the loo, closed the door and then was in the dark and I came out and I said to reception ‘so where’s the light?’ Oh they said ‘it’s outside the door’ and there was no, notice, this is the light or anything. So you could go in lock the door and find you’re in the dark, so I told them about that. And then when you go down the passage to Compton Suite where the launch was, on the doors, double doors there’s nothing to say which door to push for it to open, there’s just two doors. So I kind of just stood there thinking right I’ve got to push a door. So I’ve asked them to put signs on to push to open and um, I think maybe they should have a look at the Oldham Civic Center as to how dementia friendly or unfriendly it is.
But anyway at the launch I was very happy to see so many people. And very proud of working with Polly because she spoke when we did the leaflet she had a group of people with dementia, dementia first and she allowed us to talk and tell [?] things what were saying and he drew the cartoons which are in the leaflet. Polly really knows how to facilitate by letting people with dementia flow and say what they want and to feel valued and um it was just really great to be with them. So I really wish the leaflet great success and thank you for asking me to be part of it.

Bye Bye.