Acts of Love: Caring for a Dying Loved One

I met a family the other day who had brought their 91 year old matriarch home from a nursing facility to die. They wanted to honor her wish to die at home, surrounded by family - and surrounded by family she was. There were at least ten family members in the home pitching in to care for her as she died, and each one played an important role.

One daughter was terrified and listened intently to everything that was said; another daughter had been an aide in a hospital and was able to help with the logistics of her care, such as turning their mother and repositioning her in bed; one son was deemed the primary caregiver and would be responsible for giving medications and providing the bulk of her physical care. This dying woman also had a daughter-in-law who took on the role of asking the very detailed, but little thought of questions, and two granddaughters who laid on her bed with her and recalled stories of the past, "Grandma, remember the time we...".

It was a beautiful thing to be a part of. Although this family believed they knew little about how to care for their loved one, they were doing it without even thinking about it - it was instinctual. With a little medical guidance from me paired with the love they had for this special woman, they were able to honor her wishes and provide her with what I would call "a good death".

I've written a new article to help other families that are faced with the task of caring for their dying loved one. It provides information on what they might expect as their loved one journey toward death and tips to help keep their loved one comfortable. If you are a family member or caregiver for someone who is dying, I hope you will find this information helpful.

Acts of Love: Caring for a Dying Loved One

The Dying Process: A Journey

Interacting with a Dying Loved One

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