Comedian Jean Kittson reveals the taboo family topic she tackles with humour
The topic of dying isn’t often met with laughter, but for comedian Jean Kittson, comedy is often the best way to talk about taboo subjects.
The comedian admitted, “As a dinner conversation, dying is not what anyone wants to talk about. They’re happy to talk about holidays, yes. Reality TV, oh yeah. You know, food allergies. Menopause, even. But not dying. La la la la la la la.”
Jean added, “I hate to break it to you, but we’re all gonna die. We might as well talk about dying. Anyway, isn’t the conversation easier when we all have something in common?”
In support of National Palliative Care Week, Jean recently recorded an intimate video, sharing her honest and candid thoughts on the importance of having a conversation about death and palliative care with loved ones.
“I think humour can be used as a great tool to talk about taboo subjects. I don’t mean you use it to make light of death and dying, but I think comedy and humour is important in opening the conversation,” says Jean.
82% of Australians feel that talking about their own death and dying is important, but when it comes down to it, most people don’t actually have the conversation.
The Australian Government Department of Health aims to raise awareness and understanding about palliative care in the Australian community.
In 2016, there were 3.7 million Australians aged 65, and that number is expected to grow.
By 2056, it is projected there will be 8.7 million older Australians, and by 2096, 12.8 million people will be aged 65 years and over.
With Australia’s ageing population, it’s essential that people talk to their friends and loved ones about their end-of-life care wishes.
“As you get older, you realise that conversations about death and dying are more important. It’s a hard conversation to have because it’s a downer, but it needn’t be. You can have fun and it’s a good way to open up these conversations,” Jean said.
“Talking about death and dying with your loved ones means you won't have any regrets and that awful guilt that can come when you think you could have done more or you could have done something differently. So, it's just out there in the open and everyone's honest and it's such a relief.”
And for Jean, there are several items on her checklist when it comes to planning for her end-of-life care.
“I’d love a concierge by my bed just getting my every wish, doing whatever I want, making sure I’m happy,” Jean shared.
“I want music from the ‘60s and ‘70s, probably a bit of classical. I don’t want any rainforest or meditation music. No music that I get while I’m having a facial or being waxed,” she continued.
“I want a huge bed with lots of pillows so when I’m dying, I want everyone to lie down with me.”
For more information on palliative and end-of-life care and how to begin having the conversation visit: health.gov.au/palliativecare