Baycrest - End of Life Volunteer Manual
25
THE VOLUNTEER'S ROLE IN EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
People who are dying and their families need:
• Empathy: the feeling that someone understands their
experience.
• Permission: to express their thoughts or feelings, to be afraid or
angry or withdrawn.
• Individuality: to be treated as a person, to be asked about their
needs and to not have people make assumptions about how
they feel.
• Advocacy: someone to speak on his or her behalf if necessary
and advocate for their needs.
• Truth: an accurate diagnosis and facts about their care and
prognosis.
• Time: to integrate their experience and have their questions
answered.
Concern about physical
appearance: Someone who is
dying may feel repulsive,
freaky, dirty or unclean. They
may be mourning the loss of
their physical appearance and
feel unattractive or unlovable.
• Touch can provide comfort
and reassurance, and help
reduce the feeling of isolation
or being alone.
• Ask permission to touch the
person if and when
appropriate. Put an arm
around them, hold their hand
-touch can often mean more
than words.
Concern about their wills or
funeral: Some people may be
concerned about making or
changing their will – or
ensuring that people they
know are given something of
theirs to remember them by.
• Listen but do not give advice
or try to solve any problems.
• Put them in touch with the
appropriate support people
