What kind of care would you like at the very end of your life? Where would you like to be? Do you want music playing? Would you want medical staff to try to resuscitate you? If you can’t speak for yourself at the time, how can you be sure the people, involved in your care, do what you want?

Very few of us make our dying wishes known. Even the elderly and frail often shy away from documenting their preferences.

Yet it’s crucial because the health professionals you come into contact with, at the end of your life, may know very little about you.

Advance Care Planning, as it’s called, can be particularly crucial when disaster strikes, such as a cardiac arrest. The paramedics arriving on the scene are kept in the dark if you haven’t documented your wishes, or nominated someone else to vouch for you.

Joan Bakewell reveals why it’s so important to make your wishes known, and how to go about it.

Producer: Beth Eastwood Show less