Kiwis Anxious About Dying - Survey

14 December 2015

Kiwis Anxious About Dying - Survey

Kiwis find the thought of their own death makes them anxious, and worry that their death might be painful or that they might die young, according to a new study.

However, many New Zealanders are unprepared for death, with only half having prepared a will and even less having shared what they would like to happen at the end of their life with loved ones.

The Hospice New Zealand survey investigated Kiwis attitudes towards death and preparation for the end of life.

The study showed that while nearly eight out of ten (77%) Kiwis have personally experienced the death of a close friend or family member, there is still considerable anxiety around the idea of dying.

Over one-third (34%) of people get anxious or uncomfortable thinking about their own death, and a further three out of ten (31%) are worried their death will be painful or that they will die young (28%).

Despite this anxiety, over half (52%) of New Zealanders believe they will be able to let go when the time to die comes, with those over 50 years old significantly more at peace with the idea (62%).

When it comes to others’ deaths, almost two-thirds (64%) of respondents agreed they get anxious or uncomfortable when thinking of someone they care about dying.

The main concerns are the thought of losing someone close to them (41%), never being able to communicate with the person again (47%), and feeling lonely without that person in their life (45%)

Kiwis are also worried about the thought of having to see the body of someone close to them after death, with three in ten (28%) feeling anxious, and higher levels of anxiety about this among those aged under 30 years old.

However, the survey has also revealed a strong spiritual influence on thoughts of death, with almost half of all New Zealanders (45%) stating they believe their soul or spirit will continue after they pass away.

Women are much more likely to believe in some form of afterlife, with 45% stating they believe their soul will continue in some form compared to just 35% of men.

The Hospice New Zealand research also found religion is considered important or very important for only two in every ten Kiwis (21%). In comparison, over one-third of respondents (36%) consider spirituality to be of high or very high importance in their life.

People’s connection with their family is a key factor in their lives, with just over seven in ten people (71%) believing they have a strong or very strong connection with their family.

Despite most New Zealanders being concerned about dying, we are under-prepared for the eventuality. Only half (53%) of us have prepared a will, and even less (39%) of us have shared what we believe will be important as we approach the end of life with loved ones.

Those who have not shared their wishes believe that it’s not something they or other people wish to think or talk about, or they haven’t really considered it.

Professor Roderick MacLeod from Auckland University and Hospice New Zealand says many people are reluctant to discuss plans around death, or talk about the process of dying, but it’s something the teams at Hospices around the country deal with every day - and with more and more people each year.

“With improvements in medical science, people are living for much longer in the final stages of life now,” says Professor MacLeod.

“Twenty years ago, the average length of stay in hospice was anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, but we are picking up terminal illness much earlier now, which means that people are entering the Hospice system months before the final stage of life.”

Treatment regimes for terminal patients have also advanced substantially, according to MacLeod, which means there is a greater complexity of care, and a need for more specialised staff and training.

“People are living longer and as they age we are seeing a broader range of non-cancer-related terminal illnesses,” explains MacLeod. “Once you get past 85 years old, the chances of having multiple conditions at the same time increases substantially.”

The medical advances, combined with demographic changes in the country, are putting increased pressure on New Zealand’s palliative care resources.

It is a particular challenge for Hospice New Zealand, who need around $99 million a year to provide their services free of charge to those who need them.

While hospices receive the majority of their funding from Government, financial support from the community is essential to meet the shortfall of around $42 million each year.

This year, Hospice New Zealand has teamed up with Farmers to raise funds through its Tree of Remembrance. Shoppers can also purchase Christmas baubles for $10 with all proceeds going to the charity.

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