When a loved one is dying: A helpful booklet explaining what to expect when someone is dying.

Working at an in-patient unit as a chaplain, I had the honor to accompany and minister to many families who were with their dying loved ones. A very helpful resource I gave them was a booklet explaining how the dying process usually looks like:

Pay special attention to the "death rattle" as it can be distressing to hear, but usually does not cause distress to the patient.


You can download a copy free of cost at:
http://www.leukemiabmtprogram.org/Documents/brochures/death_of_loved_one.pdf

End of life Doula: Becoming a supportive presence during one's end of life.

A dear friend came across an article about "end of life doulas" and recommended it to me.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Look up δοῦλος or Doulos in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Doulos may refer to:

• In ancient Greece, a slave (δοῦλος)
• Biblically it is commonly translated as bond-servant or servant, but literally the word meant slave in various nuances.
• MV Doulos, the oldest passenger ship in operation
• Doulos SIL, a Unicode font produced by the SIL International

The profession of a doula was first introduced to me when I was expecting my son. A doula is someone who helps care for the expectant mother both pre and post partum. She is a skilled caregiver, who devotes her time to creating a peaceful environment and experience.

To be a caring presence for another beloved of God during his or her end of life is truly an honoring gift. Here are some resources for those interested in obtaining further training in end of life supportive presence. These training programs are recent, and the field is growing so check back often to see if there is a location closer to you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3205157/

http://dying.about.com/od/glossary/g/endoflife_doula.htm

Deana Cochran is very passionate about end of life. I find myself immersed in her writings. Deana gets the blessing of helping folks have a good death. You can find her at:

http://www.agentleguide.com/