Attending the Dying
Toward a Better Understanding of Their Behaviors
Book recommendation: Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying, by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley.
If we live a long or even average life span, we will likely experience one or more lingering deaths of someone close to us. When we visit or care for them, we often will be at a loss for words.
As their end draws near, we may need help understanding or interpreting what they are saying. How can we respond? What do we say? Is it better to remain quiet?
Two hospice nurses with years of experience have written a book with helpful advice to address this difficulty. They combined their knowledge to create a framework for connecting with dying persons, and in this short book, they tell compelling stories illustrating their concepts.
In their last chapter, they spell out suggestions for working with someone who is dying.
I wish I had read this book months ago, before my parents’ last days, but reading it now brings fresh understanding. The nurses’ insights help me see their behaviors through a new lens.
