Director of policy at Help the Aged Paul Cann said: "Too often, the idea that people 'die from old age' means that they are not receiving the care and support they need. The resounding message from many older people facing death is that they want to be treated as individual human beings, with emotions, feelings and spiritual needs, not as a machine that needs fixing."
Equity in healthcare that is devoid of discrimination is the much needed change in the mind-set, which would then reflect in the policies of the health care providers. It is also imperative to spruce up training and support that can measure up to the best in palliative care that is offered in hospitals, care homes and people's own homes.