Aged Care Insider
More than one third of older Australians wrongly believe they are too old to donate, new research finds
Research commissioned by the Organ and Tissue Authority has found that while 81 per cent of Australians aged 65 years or more are willing to become organ and tissue donors, more than one third wrongly assume they are too old to donate.
“Age is not a barrier to becoming an organ and tissue donor,” said the Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, Catherine King.
"My message to all older Australians is to please let your loved ones know your wishes about organ and tissue donation and to understand that age is not a barrier to saving or improving the lives of others.”
She said people who have had cancer or other health problems have been able to become a donor and she called for older Australians to advise their families about their wishes about organ and tissue donation
The research also found that half of people aged 65 years or over have not discussed their donation wishes with family members in the past 12 months and 28 per cent have never had the discussion.
"Many Australians aged 65 years or over believe that it is better to just leave it to their family to decide, even though 82 per cent of them believe it is important that their family know their wishes,” she said.
http://www.agedcareinsite.com.au/pages/section/article.php?s=Breaking+News&idArticle=24014
{Register to be an organ,eye and tissue donor. To learn how, www.donatelife.net or www.organdonor.gov}
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