Many people die in institutions.
It does not seem likely that society can offer dying at home to all patients, but dying can be de-institutionalised and restored to families by inviting relatives, friends, pets and special belongings into the hospital. For those without relatives or friends hospital staff must act as surrogate family. A young person's death shakes our illusion that 'we die when we're old'. An old person's death may seem to confirm that illusion, but we may be overlooking his or her feeling of not being ready to go. Like birth, death must be regarded as something special, however often seen.