End-of-Life Care

According to the National Institute of Aging: “End-of-life care describes the support and medical care given during the time surrounding death. This type of care does not happen only in the moments before breathing ceases and the heart stops beating. Older people often live with one or more chronic diseases. As a result, they need significant care for days, weeks, and even months before death.

The end of life may look different depending on preferences, needs, or choices. For example, some people may want to be at home when they die. In contrast, others may prefer to seek treatment in a hospital or facility until the very end. Many want to be surrounded by family and friends, but it’s common for some to slip away while their loved ones aren’t in the room. When possible, we can take steps to increase the likelihood of a peaceful death for your loved one, follow their end-of-life wishes, and treat them with respect while they are dying.”

Generally, dying people need care in four areas: physical comfort, mental and emotional needs, spiritual needs, and practical tasks. In addition, of course, the dying person’s family needs support, too, with practical tasks and emotional distress.

We provide end-of-life caregiving, as well as spiritual care and support.

In addition, we collaborate with hospice providers, and we are the liaison between the family and dying person and hospice services.   

Indeed, end-of-life care can also include helping the dying person manage mental and emotional distress. For example, someone alert near the end of life might understandably feel depressed or anxious. Therefore, it is important to treat emotional pain and suffering. In addition, we are providing spiritual care and support. 

The dying person may also have specific fears and concerns. They may fear the unknown or worry about those left behind. Some people fear being alone at the very end. These feelings can be made worse by the reactions of family, friends, and even the medical team. For example, family and friends may not know how to help or what to say, so they may stop visiting or withdraw because they are already grieving. Doctors may feel helpless and avoid dying patients because they cannot help them further (according to NIA, NIH, the U.S.A.).

And some people may experience mental confusion and strange or unusual behavior, making it harder to connect with their loved ones. This can add to a dying person’s sense of isolation.

Contact us; we are highly specialized in end-of-life care and support!

Spiritual needs may be as crucial as physical concerns for people nearing the end of life. Spiritual needs may include finding meaning in life, finally ending disagreements with others, or finding peace with life circumstances.

Many people find solace in their faith. However, others may struggle with their faith or spiritual beliefs. Praying, reading religious and spiritual texts, or listening to sacred music may help.

We are here to help a person and family members at the end of life. You are not alone. Ultimately, we are here to help a dying person die peacefully. We are certified in end-of-life care, spiritual care, and support for a dying person. End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiving is not a new concept of spiritual care and support at the end of life. 

On the contrary, it is a very old concept that originated in many ancient civilizations and nations’ folklore, tradition, and customs, similar to midwifery at birth. Active caregiving, spiritual care, and support at end-of-life have been practiced since ancient times. But, unfortunately, they are forgotten and abandoned in the modern era. Death is still a topic and stigma that makes people very uncomfortable. People do not like to talk about, plan for, or acknowledge it, even when it is present. Still, some cultures and nations cherish and practice active spiritual care and support at the end of life as a part of customs in the significant transition. However, several authors and practitioners brought that concept into the modern era, nicely structured with some modifications to accommodate the needs of the people of the modern era.

I will undoubtedly start with Dr. Megory Anderson, the founder of the Sacred Dying Foundation of the U.S.A., where I was a student in her program a long time ago, Sacred Dying Vigil Training. Other authors, such as Felicity Warner from the U.K., named this concept Soul Midwifery. Many others uniquely shaped their practices, predominantly from the population of great spiritualists with decades of experience in spirituality, end-of-life care, and support in their communities. 

Currently, we have one more concept named Soul Doula, predominantly in the U.S.A. Doulas are people who provide support and guidance during labor and transition. Of course, we’ve all heard of Birth Doulas and Death Doulas. Those experiences are massive, emotional, and profoundly transformative. So, of course, they warrant dedicated support and devoted attention.

Either way, with different names, Sacred Dying Vigil, Soul Midwife, Death Doula, Soul Doula, End-of-life practitioner, or Spiritual minister, they perform spiritual support and care for a dying person and family. At the time of death, every person has to face the outstandingly challenging transition from this life; there is no need to do this alone, not at all. Nobody deserves to die alone. 

Further, I will use the term End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver. 

End-of-Life Spiritual Caregivers are non-medical companions who provide one-on-one holistic and spiritual care and support to dying people and their families, as I mentioned all practitioners above. They practice independently or as a member of hospice care in several settings, at the dying person’s home (in-home hospice), assisted living facilities, nursing homes, hospitals, and inpatient hospice facilities. It depends on the hospice organization and varies substantially from country to country.

End-of-Life Spiritual Caregivers support a dying person in setting out their wishes for the final days in a death plan (if they have it). Then, they listen, keep vigil, allow people to talk openly about their impending death, fears, regrets, and wishes, and provide holistic and spiritual support to help alleviate anxiety, depression, pain, regrets, and desires. This could be through active listening, discussions, breathing techniques, gentle massage, sound, music therapy, and essential oils (sacred -holy oils). The role also offers a spiritual dimension linked to healing, detachment, forgiveness, and letting go. But it’s not only about helping people to die without fear, loneliness, or anxiety.

They offer a range of holistic and spiritual interventions to soothe and reassure and are advocates and advisors. End-of-Life Spiritual Caregivers are non-denominational and spiritual in their pastoral support, always encouraging deep conversation with love and dignity.

Their work may begin from the point of assessment and continue until the final day, with support for living life thoroughly until the end. End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver starts at the very early stage of hospice care, far before the dying person reaches the stage of social death, usually with active listening and communication. Then, it progresses into active practice from the side of the End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver. An End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver is there for the dying person as well as for members of the family and friends. Each visit of the End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver can last several hours, not short “15-minute” visits, where full attention is given to the dying person (first of all) and family.

Probably the best approach (from my personal experience) is to incorporate end-of-life caregiving with End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiving. It gives tremendous results, where strong bonds are built between the dying person and the End-of-Life Spiritual Caregiver far before “social death,” and it progresses to the end, the last breath.

For more information, please feel free to contact us!