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Hold my hand at the end (at or near the end-of-life)


 

The end-of-life may come suddenly, or a person may be near-death for days or a longer period before finally passing. For some people, the body weakens while the mind stays clear. For others the opposite is true. You may want to know what happens when someone is dying and how to provide comfort and care, what to say, or what to do.

Thinking about the end of life can be emotional and death can be a difficult topic to talk about. There are also many practical things you can do may have to do. This module will provide insight into the following areas: care when nearing the end (practical issues), providing physical comfort, mental and emotional needs, and spiritual needs.

Providing Physical Comfort

During the last days of life, people can experience changes in their thoughts and feelings as well as physical changes. Some people do not experience pain whilst others might get new symptoms, or their existing symptoms might change. This may happen because of the person's condition or illness, or because of another physical problem or side effect of treatment. Other symptoms can happen because of natural changes to the body at the end of life. Managing such changes, and helping people to stay as comfortable as possible, is an important part of their care.

This might involve treating pain, or care to stop the person's mouth and lips from becoming dry and sore, or encouraging them to drink if they want to, so they don't get dehydrated. Family and friends may wish to help with the person's care, for example by giving sips of water or helping to clean the person's teeth, and they should be shown how to do this safely.

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All topics in this module

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  • Care when nearing the end +Read More

    Care when nearing the end

    Learn to manage practical tasks and alleviate worries for those nearing end of life, including daily chores and caregiver support, emphasising the importance of self-care for caregivers.
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    Providing Physical Comfort

    Explore how to address the physical and emotional changes during the last days of life, ensuring comfort through symptom management, hydration, and personal care with safe involvement of family and friends.
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    Mental and emotional needs

    Learn the importance of addressing both physical pain and emotional distress in end-of-life care, emphasising open conversations, managing fears, and the power of simple physical contact to provide comfort and connection.
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    Spiritual Needs

    Address spiritual needs at life's end by finding meaning, resolving conflicts, and embracing faith or personal beliefs, with support from family, friends, and spiritual advisors, enhancing peace through connection and expression.
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