Death Support

Most commonly needed is for someone to spend time with the dying person to offer death-comfortable companionship and an opportunity for other caregivers to rest or work on additional responsibilities, often called respite. These services can involve activities the dying person enjoys, help with basic caregiving tasks, and light housework.

Preparing for the end of life is an important task of living. It can feel emotionally daunting, but at the same time, comforting (I'm serious!) to know things are in place when the time comes. These services can include guiding you through the creation of end-of-life documents, decluttering or downsizing belongings, and memorial planning. 

Whether you have your healthcare wishes written down or not, it can make a meaningful difference when someone confidently advocates and reminds everyone of those wishes when quick decisions need to be made. This service looks like guiding to clarify your wishes, then being present while those decisions are made and being carried out.

In some cases, the dying person is not looking for additional support but the caregivers are. These services can look like death-comfortable companionship for the caregiver, early grief processing, and resource referral for licensed counseling when appropriate.

In every client relationship, it is my preferred practice to have at least one visit with the caregivers following the death of their loved one.

Often called sitting vigil, this is the task of being present while the dying person is very near death, what I call the labor of death. This can look like holding space for the dying person and/or loved ones, creating a calm environment, carrying out final wishes, and loving care of the body after death.