Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
22
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL
ISSUES AND SUPPORT
WHAT IS A GOOD DEATH?
Dying is a very intimate, personal experience.
Each person will have his or her own definition of "dying well" that
will be affected by his or her personality, gender, culture, ethnicity,
and spiritual beliefs.
However, most people believe that dying well includes:
• Being pain free
• Having a sense of choice and control over what happens in their
lives while gradually relinquishing the responsibility for their
care to significant others
• Maintaining their dignity and privacy
• Having access to emotional and spiritual support
• Resolving long-standing conflicts
• Satisfying final wishes
• Having time to say good-bye
What people need near end of life:
• Good symptom control
• Feeling of security
• Not to feel they are a burden
• To still have value
• Expressions of affection
• Clear explanations of the disease processes
• Acceptance regardless of mood
• The opportunity to be involved in decision-making
THE EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS OF THE
DYING PERSON
Each person diagnosed with a life threatening or terminal illness will
have a unique emotional reaction to impending death and unique
needs, losses, fears and hopes.