Difficult conversations – opening up with Wards Solicitors
Talking about death and dying is not always easy - that's why Wards Solicitors is always keen to support initiatives which help pave the way to opening up sometimes difficult conversations.
Wills, Probate and Mental Capacity staff from several of our offices recently took part in a week-long series of local events organised annually by the Dying Matters coalition of 32,000 members across England and Wales.
Over tea and our statement Wards Solicitors' cupcakes, we were able to talk to both health professionals and retirement home residents about issues such as making a Will, setting up a Lasting Power of Attorney and ways to set out future medical care preferences using an advance statement or advance decision.
The events we attended included:
- A pop-up legal café at the Royal United Hospital in Bath where NHS staff could discuss how to support patients' end of life plans with Wards Solicitors' Wills, Probate and Mental Capacity Partner, Ruth Coles, and trainee solicitor, Charlotte Gage;
- Talks and advice for residents of St Monica's Trust retirement community in Keynsham by Ruth Coles and Charlotte as well as at Stoke Gifford Retirement Village by Solicitor Associate Katherine Roe;
- A visit to St Monica's Westbury-on-Trym retirement community by the head of Wards Solicitors' Wills, Probate and Mental Capacity team, Jenny Pierce, and fellow Partner, Tom Scoffham.
Ruth Coles, who is also manager of the Wards Solicitors' Keynsham office, said: "Anything that helps start conversations about death and dying is a good thing and, as last year, we were delighted to contribute to Dying Matters Awareness Week 2019.
"I was based in the RUH's Spiritual Care Centre where we handed out Will packs and fact sheets to a steady stream of people. It was heartening to see how open and engaged everyone who popped by our stall was and how well our cakes went down!"
- The winners of a hamper prize as well as a competition for a free standard or joint Will drawn up by Wards Solicitors' Wills Probate and Mental Capacity team in Keynsham will be contacted by us soon.