Over half of west’s adults have no will
Almost six out of every ten people in the west do not have a will – and that’s in line with the national average of 59%.
And according to the Royal London’s “Let’s Talk About Death” survey, one-third of the population say they’ve been meaning to, but just haven’t gotten around to it.
The survey was undertaken as part of a campaign launched by Royal London, which aims to tackle the taboo surrounding death to encourage a vital dialogue on bereavement, to help people enjoy the time they have with those they love and to honour those lost.
Padraic Benson, Royal London’s Broker Consultant for Galway, acknowledged that it was understandable why many people are reluctant to discuss the topic of death and dying.
But he added: “this survey indicates that it’s hampering the necessary provisions to be made. While men appear to be slightly more prepared than their female counterparts, with 48% saying they have a will compared with just 34% of women, it still leaves over half the population unprepared.”
But the pandemic has helped to focus the minds of many, he said.
“Since the start of the pandemic, there have been 254,870 recorded cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, with 10,511 confirmed cases in Galway alone. And when asked, 55% of people surveyed said Covid-19 had made them realise how important it is to have a will in place,” he revealed.
“While the survey results do show that most people have a sense of when they should make a will, it seems the majority aren’t following through with the necessary actions. Many people have the best of intentions, with 34% saying they’ve been meaning to get around to it. Others believe they are too young (25%) and many more, 23%, have just never thought about it.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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