Everyone has different needs, but some worries are common to most dying patients. Two of these concerns are fear of abandonment and fear of being a burden. People who are dying also have concerns about loss of dignity and loss of control. Some ways caregivers can provide comfort to a person with these worries are listed below:
Keep the person company. Talk, watch movies, read, or just be with them.
Allow the person to express fears and concerns about dying, such as leaving family and friends behind. Be prepared to listen.
Be willing to reminisce about the person's life.
Avoid withholding difficult information. Most patients prefer to be included in discussions about issues that concern them.
Reassure the patient that you will honor advance directives, such as living wills.
Ask if there is anything you can do.
Respect the person's need for privacy.
Support the person’s spirituality. Let them talk about what has meaning for them, pray with them if they’d like, and arrange visits by spiritual leaders and church members, if appropriate. Keep objects that are meaningful to the person close at hand.