Family members who are slowly passing away is a common heart ache in families. The slow process of the dying can lead to multiple emotions. Anger, regret, hope, despair all mix with fearful anticipation of death but also a merciful end to the pain. These conflicting emotions can put caregivers and other family members in difficult emotional states. Counselors and pastoral caregivers can help these individuals, as well as the dying through this difficult process.
Caring for the dying is an emotionally difficult thing for living family. Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology program
It is important though to understand the nature of the death, the process of dying and the emotional toll it takes on all parties. Pastoral Thanatology is the type of counseling that many become certified in to help others learn to better accept and deal with the process of dying.
The article, “Understanding Grief for Still-Living Family Members” from Ohio State University looks at some aspects regarding death and the living. The article states,
“The symptoms of grief people feel for a loved one facing a life-limiting illness fluctuate over time, a new study found – suggesting that individuals can adjust to their emotional pain, but also revealing factors that can make pre-loss grief more severe. Researchers examined changes in the severity of pre-loss grief symptoms in people whose family members had either advanced cancer or dementia.”
To read the entire article and to learn more about the study, please click here
Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology program. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Pastoral Thanatology
Death is not the end to spiritual people. Death is a continuation. Many view death as primarily an end point and something to be avoided at all costs, but death is as part of life as birth and plays a pivotal role in our development.
Spirituality is key in death. Many may view life in a more materialistic way, but even so, spirituality without a higher end can be beneficial to the dying. Spirituality and a commitment to something higher or bigger than themselves. The traditional ideal of spirituality sees this in regards to religion, faith and a God, while others may see it as a way of life, or giving to the greater cause of humanity. Spirituality allows one to approach death with more dignity and understanding.
Spirituality is key in embracing death and understanding the nature of its role in life. Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Certification
In David Kessler’s book, “The Needs of the Dying”. he addresses five important stages and elements of spirituality. In some cases, death or the news of death bring about this stages and to them the benefits of death open one’s soul. Spirituality is for the mind and soul, not the body itself. Death can bring about a healing of the soul for the future existence.
Kessler points out that the first step is expression. Expression is needed in regards to one’s physical ailment. One needs to let the anger or grief out. Many are angry at God for suffering and misfortune or why they have a particular disease. It is important to express the feelings of death to be able to face them and understand them. No particular feeling is wrong or right but are catalysts to understanding.
Following expression is a spirituality of responsibility. One begins to take account of one’s life and begin to understand that not everything in life was everyone else’s fault. Taking responsibility allows one to humble oneself and identify issues of life that were once so black and white and maybe see that the issues and common factors were oneself. It can present an important spiritual transformation that without death could never occur.
Naturally following responsibility stems forgiveness. One does not wish to die bitter and angry but instead looks to forgive. Death can bring broken and shattered families together in forgiveness. One is able to set everything straight and see things far more clearly than before. Petty arguments and proud stances become trivial when one is about to lose his or her life.
Acceptance of the death is also an important step in dying. One may not desire to die but it is important to accept death when no other route is left. One needs to learn from oncoming death what life truly is. This is only possible when one faces death and accepts it as part of his or her continuing journey.
Spirituality in death helps one accept responsibility of life, forgive, accept and be thankful for life.
In this, spiritually, one should find some sort of gratitude. Life is not defined by what was accomplished or how long one lived, but a life is defined by birth and death. No life is incomplete. Each life has a certain amount of time. Gratitude for life and what has been given is key in spirituality when dying. It cherishes what has been given instead of lamenting what was taken.
Spirituality is important in dying. It helps one to understand the comprehensive nature of death. Death is no longer an end point but part of a process and something that is as important to life as birth itself. If you would like to learn more about Pastoral Thanatology and the science of dying, then please review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals.
Pain is a natural nerve reaction telling the body that there is damage to tissue. It is an essential warning device. It sometimes hastens death and lets the person know the body no longer is viable and sometimes in death it can be absent. Unfortunately, individuals cannot decide if pain will be present in their final days or not but every person has a right to die with as little pain as possible. Physicians and family need to ensure their loved one’s receive the necessary pain management.
Pain management is important element of pastoral care. The right to die without pain is something all individuals deserve.
Pain management should be simple but it is not always simple. Many individuals see pain differently. Pain for the most part is dependent upon the individual. This is why it is so crucial to express for the terminally ill or dying to express their levels of pain. Doctors may prescribe pain medication levels for an average curve and supply too little for someone who may have a lower tolerance for pain. It is important for individuals to let doctors know their pain level. They need to express the type of pain, the level of it, the place of it, and its duration.
Some may seek to hide their pain, fearing if they accept certain medications, they are hastening death, but the reality is pain management is not about giving up, but instead, living in comfort with what days remain. It is crucial and a right of every patient to be pain free or at least as pain free as possible. Families who see their loved ones suffer, need to be the voice of those to weak to express their pain and ensure the proper medications and pain relievers are supplied.
Many doctors may fear the issue of addiction with greater pain relievers, but the fear of addiction is mute once a person has reached the threshold of death. Death is coming and addiction of certain medications is not an issue nor ever should be. Addiction can become a topic for discussion for pain management of the living, but never should be an issue for the dying. Comfort and pain relief is the most important concern after someone has reached a certain point.
It is the duty of pastoral care givers and healthcare providers to provide the best comfort to the dying. Physically, pain relief is one of the most important elements of pastoral care. It is important to reduce or remove pain as much as possible for the dying so they may experience a death of peace and dignity when possible.
Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Certification Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals and needs.
If you would like to learn more about our Pastoral Thanatology Certification or would like to become certified in this field of care of the dying, then please review AIHCP’s program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is for healthcare professionals and those involved in ministry and focuses on preparing individuals with the training and knowledge needed to help the dying and their families deal with end of life issues. The program is online and independent study and leads to a four year certification.
Pastoral Care of the dying is beyond treating the body and providing comfort but also helping the soul prepare for death. Spirituality plays a key role in this process of death. While the subject should not be breached unless invoked by the patient, it is important for healthcare providers to have some understanding of faith and spirituality. It is important to see how faith plays a role in dying and how to react to faith based statements from patients.
Spiritual care is an important aspect of Pastoral Thanatology. Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals
The article, “Spirituality Is An Important Part of Cancer Care, But Nurses Need More Support” by Kaitlyn D’Onofrio looks at how nurses view spiritual care. Her article states from a case study of nurses that
“For nurses to provide spiritual care, institutional acknowledgement of the importance of spiritual care is needed. Nurses have highlighted the lack of adequate settings to address spirituality. Spiritual care needs to be a part of the institutional vision to enable the provision of this care to become relevant and accountable by institutions,”
Please also review AIHCP’s Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and leads to a four year certification
Palliative care helps individuals face life threatening illnesses with compassion and care. Hospice helps those who are terminal. Both can give the comforts of home during an illness or near death. Is dying at home overrated or is it truly better?
Dying at home is a luxury not all have. Please also review our pastoral thanatology program and see if it meets your academic needs
The article, “Is Dying at Home Overrated?” by Jon Han looks at this question in detail. He states,
“It is emotionally and intellectually compelling that patients should die in their own homes, surrounded by loved ones in a comfortable, familiar environment. For patients dying of end-stage disease, be it cancer, heart disease or something else, even the best hospitals are unlikely to be able to “fix” the underlying problem.”
Dying at home has many benefits if possible. It can give the emotional and spiritual needs a person needs. Please review our Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it meets your educational and professional needs.
Pastoral Thanatology is the study of pastoral care of the dying. It is a study but also a active ministry dedicated to the dying and applying the principles of care. Pastoral Thanatology deals with not only understanding the process of death but also helping individuals and families face death.
Pastoral Thanatology is about caring for the dying. Physicians, caregivers and ministers should have a strong understanding of death and how to help people through it
While it is a difficult reality to accept, one must eventually accept death. Death visits many people in different forms throughout their lives. Many experience death at a young age through the loss of a pet. Others may experience death all to commonly but the the reality that death occurs will manifest in one’s life. Those who seek to deny this and live in a world where death has no power are the most profoundly wounded when death strikes.
It is important to have a healthy respect for death. One does not need to have a morbid obsession with it but a healthy respect. A respect for the reality of death means one is not fearful to discuss it. One should not fear to discuss the death of oneself in the future or the death of a loved one. Many fear these discussions of death but by postponing these discussions they only make death worst when it does arrive.
Those who fear death are not prepared for death. Their Will is not in order, nor their future wishes. This leaves families without guidance after death. Others who refuse to discuss death with dying family members miss out on close and personal good byes that may not be able be said on the eve of death. Discussion of death is critical to a prepared death. One cannot allow a morbid fear of death and dying to complicate future issues.
It is hence important to understand the reality of death. It is important to know that when death is on the horizon not to dismiss it but to prepare for it. Many look to hospice to find relief. Some see hospice as a death sentence and refuse to utilize its services. This fear of death prevents important care to minimize pain and discomfort. Hospice is about quality of life. It looks care for terminal cases with 6 months or less to live. This does not mean one surrenders to death or gives up on life but instead one realistically is trying to limit symptoms. Shortness of breath, intense pain and other symptoms can be successfully dealt with by a hospice team. (1)
One can still have a medical team dedicated to treating the disease or looking to treat the disease itself but hospice will attempt to make the time more comforting. This is far from surrender but a realistic but also optimistic approach. Why should one live in discomfort? Instead minimize the symptoms of death and terminal disease while still looking for a cure. This is the proper mindset one should have in regards to the utilization of hospice.
Hospice is not surrendering to death but hoping to manage the symptoms of dying
A more acute form of care is Palliative Care. Palliative Care does not necessarily deal with oncoming and approaching death but is a special care unit designed to treat symptoms associated with a particular type of disease. They work with the primary caregivers and other healthcare team members in helping the person deal with the ongoing illness. Many units deal with cancer and other dangerous diseases. While both Palliative Care and Hospice deal with symptoms they do differ. Hospice deals with the dying while Palliative Care deals with those who are dealing with an onset of a disease that could possibly kill. (2)
Pastoral Caregivers, ministers, family and other care givers need to understand the phases of death. They need to recognize the reality of death and discuss it with individuals who are dying or with family members who are losing individuals to death. The care and counsel of a minister or caregiver certified and trained in Pastoral Thanaotology is important. The training helps ministers and family help the dying face death from an emotional and spiritual aspect.
The training in death and dying from a theological and philosophical standpoint help the counselor or minister better able to explain death and suffering from multiple cultural, social and religious views. They become equipped to answer questions and help emotionally guide the dying through death. With the combined understanding of the physiology of death, with this philosophical and theological training, a minister or caregiver can confidently help the dying and family.
Doctors, nurses and other primary caregivers should also be trained in Pastoral Thanatology. They need to be able to help their patient beyond just the physical but also treat them in mind and body. Many healthcare professionals lack a good bedside manner. This is unfortunate. With training in Pastoral Thanatology, healthcare providers can become better equipped in the care of the dying.
Elizabeth Kubler Ross was a pioneer in the care of the dying. Her study on the stages of death provided psychological chart for ministers and care givers in understanding the mindset of the dying. While this model is still useful, one must understand that reaction to death, or grief is not always ordered but these various emotions may come in any order. The classic stages include, denial, anger, bargaining, despair and acceptance. One can include many other emotions in the acceptance of death but these are the primary stages. (3)
Again it is imperative to emphasize that many individuals face these stages in various orders and not neatly put together steps. Some may even revert back to previous stages. So one certified in Pastoral Thanatology or ministers to the dying need to acknowledge that different patients react differently to death and need their own unique care.
Ultimately, death must be accepted. How we accept it, how we discuss it and how we deal with it throughout our life will determine our life. We need to be prepared for death and have a healthy acceptance for it.
Please review AIHCP’S Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals and needs
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals and the American Academy of Grief Counseling acknowledges the need for good care to the dying and the families. AIHCP offers a certification for qualified professionals and clergy to be better equipped to help patients face death.
The program is online and independent study. Students can complete the required courses and then proceed to earn a four year certification in Pastoral Thanatology. The certification helps prepare ministers and other care givers the necessary training in Pastoral Thanatology. If you would like to learn more about care of the dying then please review our Pastoral Thanatology Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals.
One of the greatest burdens is to receive a bad medical diagnosis. Some may be terrifying and involve a chance of death while other cases are terminal pronouncements. These challenges involve first digesting the terrifying diagnosis. This alone is a challenge and can cause time to adjust to the challenge ahead. Whether its a long road to recovery or potential death, one must eventually overcome the initial shock wave of grief and denial and move forward.
It is hard to deal and handle a bad health diagnosis. Please also review our Pastoral Thanatology program
The article, “The Importance of Grief and Acceptance After a Diagnosis” by Jori Hamilton states,
“Many people, after learning any type of serious diagnosis go through different stages of grief. Grief doesn’t just apply to death, it applies to other types of loss as well.”
Please also review our Grief Counseling Program as well as our Pastoral Thanatology program. Both programs can help professionals with the training they need to help others through the process of grief and death.
Grief and loss are difficult themes. It is hard for the individual to overcome basic loss, but complications can even make grief more difficult. One time of grief is ambiguous grief, or the type of grief that is lost in between, or the grey areas of loss.
With ambiguous grief you live in a grey area of doubt, hope, despair and sometimes joy, but ultimately you are preparing yourself for the end
The classic example of someone who is dying slowly is an example of ambiguous grief. The family is left with the long awaited death, but still try to keep hope. The family sees the person suffer, with some hoping for the suffering to end, with others sometimes unknowingly selfishly cannot let go.
The purgatory of ambiguous grief can later lead to other complications. Some may feel guilty over the death of a loved one for having caregiver fatigue, while others may feel guilty they wished the person would finally die to find peace.
Complicated grief can emerge from many of these scenarios later in the grieving process. For some though, ambiguous grief is just a period of conflicting emotions where one finds joy then sadness with also hope and despair.
While dealing with long term illness of a family member, family members need to just be free to feel. They should not feel guilty or resentful, but respect the process, cherish the time left, and allow the grieving process to continue. In fact, such long term deaths, prepare many for the death of the a loved, and while the loss is still impactful, it is not sudden. The grief process has already begun well before the death.
Terminal illness is death that has yet to come. Grief hence can become ambiguous in nature. Please review our Pastoral Thanatology program
When dealing with long term grief over a terminal illness of a loved one, it may be good to consult a certified Grief Counselor or speak with a someone educated in Pastoral Thanatology. One can find the guidance and relief they need during this process.
Please review our Pastoral Thanatology program, as well as our Grief Counseling program to see if they meet your academic and professional needs.
Good article looking at how skilled nursing facilities could also play a role in end of life care, especially in palliative care where the treatment is still in process.
Good article on SNF and palliative care. Please also review our Pastoral Thanatology program and see if it matches your needs
The article, “Turn-Key CEO: Why Palliative Care Must Soon Come to Skilled Nursing” by Maggie Flynn looks at how SNF have in the past have their own limitations but could in the future be an excellent fit. The article states,
“The first thing I think we would do would be really look at it from a regulatory perspective, to better understand the credentialing process, and how to work with SNF concentrations. Because some of our partners do have preferred SNFs, and have expressed serious interest in having this type of service in that SNF population.”
When facing death, people need more than physical care but also emotional as well as spiritual care. Part of that care entails helping the person transition from this life to the next. Pastoral Thanatology is the science of helping people face death.
Pastoral Thanatology looks to help others face death. Please also review our Pastoral Thanatology Program
The article, “Why help is needed when facing death” by John Dolan looks to answer the question of why individuals need help when facing death. The article states,
“In my nearly 30 years as a priest, I have had the privilege of visiting the homebound, and those in convalescent homes, hospice and/or in palliative care. I have witnessed many families gathered together, accompanying their parents or grandparents as they died peacefully.”
