Death is as equally an important chapter of life as any other, and it can be helpful to talk about it ahead of older age, even if it feels uncomfortable to do so

Did you spend much of your childhood eager to move forward and reach adulthood? Once there, were you caught up trying to find the right path, endeavouring to make your mark on the world? And where are you now? If you’re in the middle part of life, with its various responsibilities, it can sometimes feel even more complicated, as though every ounce of energy is needed just to tread water. From this viewpoint, your own final stage still seems far off in the distance, something to put to the back of your mind and pick up nearer the time.

The fact is, there never seems to be a right time to consider the end of your life. It’s something few people want to think about, as it’s full of unknowns and therefore often filled with fear. However, like many things in life that instil dread, what causes the most distress and panic can become less of a problem once you take a deep breath and face the issue head on.

The subject of death and dying has become taboo in many societies where modern medicine has led many to believe that there’s a vaccine or a medication for every ailment. It can almost feel as though, one day, it will be possible to live forever. And the more life expectancy increases, the more people put off thinking about the end of their life.

But while it’s true that in many countries people are living longer lives, no improvement in healthcare, diet or fitness is going to bring down a death rate of 100 per cent. It happens to everyone, so it’s something you might wish to think about. Some, of course, are forced to confront the issue while still young, following the diagnosis of a life-limiting or terminal illness, while other lives are cut short unexpectedly. For many people, however, the final stages of life are spread over a longer period of time, but this brings other considerations. Those who do make it to 90 are likely to be less mobile and flexible, for example, and some face a decline in cognitive health.