Support

In 2015 the average person in the UK spent over 31 hours online each month. With society increasingly migrating their lives from the physical realm to the digital realm end of life planning is becoming increasingly fragmented and difficult.

Support material to use on your website and resources

Digital Legacy Association text (about digital assets and digital legacy) for your website Digital Legacy Association text for use by external websites (PDF)
Research & reports carried out by the Digital Legacy Association can be found on our research page.

Data shown is from the Digital Death Survey 2018 (in partnership with Siena College).

Digital Legacy Association images for use on external websites (click on the images below to view. Then right click and save / download the image if you would like to use it.

Training slides

We have developed and made training slides available for free to professionals and carers

To download the presentation click on the following link (PDF download). To learn more about our training courses click here.

Public facing resources & publications

Below are links to a number of public resources that we have either developed or been included in.

Our Digital Asset and Digital Legacy Framework for hospices, social, palliative and healthcare professionals.
A range of tutorials for the general public
BBC’s We need to talk about death with Joan Bakewell – My Digital Legacy
BBC’s Death in data: What happens at the end of life?
The FT’s addressing Digital Assets and Digital Legacy planning (article and podcast)
The Times – Don’t lock your loved ones out of your online finances
Marie Curie’s Making plans for your social media accounts
Dying Matters Digital Legacy
Age UK’s – Thinking about end of life
Together for Short Lives – Caring for a child at end of life
British Medical Journal’s Palliative Social Media
MS Trust’s Leaving a gift in your will to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust
MND Association’s Planning Ahead
Palliative Care Scotland National update
The Scotsman What will happen to online you after death?
Jewish Care Interact’s Scams online: how to stay safe
Moneywise What happens to your digital assets when you die?

Features on hospice websites

- eHospice – Digital Legacy Association urges hospices to support patients in managing their digital estate
- Loris Hospice – You and your online presence
- East Lancs Hospice –Digital Legacy
- Maggies Centres – Wills & Digital Legacies
- St Columbus Hospice – Digital Legacy Presentation
- Wigan and Leigh Hospice – Your digital assets and digital legacy
- Highland hospice – Anticipating death
- St Anns Hospice – Your Digital Legacy
- Dorothy House – Planning for the future? Don’t forget your digital legacy as well as your Will

News Contributions

We have provided insights on BBC News, CNN, Channel 4 News and for range of TV programmes and publications. If you would like someone from the Digital Legacy Association to contribute or support you when researching this area get in touch.

If you require support developing your resources or would like us to run a training course click here

Press Releases

We no longer publish press releases. The press releases released between 2015- 2016 can be found below.

Digital Legacy Association is launch to help professionals (10th November 2015) – Press Release
Do we “unfriend” our Facebook friends after they die? by The National Council For Palliative Care (13th May) Press Release
The Digital Legacy Association urge professionals to better support patients with their digital estate. (14h May 2016) Press Release

Why this is important…

We would like to thank those who have provided kinds words and encouragement for what we have embarked on.

“Social media has a key place in our lives now, and we are learning that it becomes even more crucial as people face the end of their lives. It helps patients stay connected and boosts self esteem. But patients and those special to them don’t know how to manage this personal vital resource after a death – memories, music, photos and messages are lost. We are delighted that the Digital Legacy Association is being launched at our annual Hospice UK Conference for over 700 staff working with families at the end of life”

Dr Ros Taylor MBE – Medical Director at Michael Sobell House Hospice & Former National Director for Hospice Care, Hospice UK

“Ensuring people understand how to protect and pass on their digital legacy is an increasingly important issue, which is why we are delighted that the Digital Legacy Association has been launched. Talking more openly about dying, death and bereavement benefits us all, as does putting plans in place for when we are dying, and for after our death.”

Claire Henry MBE – The Loss Project & Former Chief Executive of the Dying Matters

“In recent years, the ways people choose to remember deceased family members and friends has changed. Trips to the cemetery are replaced by online memorials and social media sites which can be updated regularly and accessed freely. Healthcare professionals need to engage with service users to discuss digital legacies. This, in turn builds confidence in discussing dying, death and bereavement. St Christopher’s are pleased to have supported DeadSocial in the foundation of the Digital Legacy Association.”

Ruth Sheridan – Director of Supportive Care, St Christopher’s Hospice.

“The number of people living with life-limiting conditions requiring good forward planning for when they get unwell is vast. In hospices, the community and in hospitals, many patients are asking their healthcare providers questions about dying, death and what happens after, including their digital possessions. Many healthcare providers do not know what advice to give with regard to the important issue of digital advance planning. The Digital Legacy Association should become a ‘go to’ organisation which patients, carers and healthcare providers can use for valuable information and resources.”