Cope with Death and Dying

• Getting older is part of life. And death and dying is also a part of life.
• Dying affects individuals, families, and their community.
• Many older people are cared for and die in residential aged care. Home care staff will often support older people in the last years of their life.

We all have different backgrounds and experiences. We learn about death from our families, our community and through books and TVs and social media. Some of us have experience with death through our personal life. Religious beliefs can also shape our views. Your attitudes to and experience of death and dying can affect how you feel when someone dies.

Many older people die in residential aged care or while receiving a home care package. The care they receive in the last months and weeks of life makes a difference to them, their family and to the people providing their care.

Most careworkers will care for a resident or client who will be coming to the end of their life.

If you have not cared for someone who has died before, you may find it hard. You may be sad and confused, and unsure what you feel and how to act. Talk to your family and friends about your feelings and take care of your physical well-being. Reach out to your co-workers for support. Remember that the care you provided made a difference to the person and their family.

We can all help others in our team to be prepared to cope when caring for residents and home care clients who are coming to the end of their life. Remind them that their care helps the person and their families. Guide them if they don’t have much experience in talking to people who are coming to the end of their life. Encourage them to talk to talk about how they felt about caring for a dying person.