Kontakt 2009, 11(2):328-332 | DOI: 10.32725/kont.2009.052

Standpoints of modern man concerning dying and deathNursing

Mária Homolová

Univerzita Komenského v Bratislave, Rímskokatolícka cyrilometodská bohoslovecká fakulta

The expert as well as lay consideration of conditions of dying is currently critical. Dying in hospitals is unsatisfactory. Appropriate possibilities have not yet been established for dying in hospice institutions and in the hospice care. Still persisting transfer of a patient into a social institution is an unpleasant variant of taking care of a dying person.
The death is a fact stressing the dying patient as well as his/her relatives. There is an association between the death and dying and successful life relationships. Man is bound to the relationships even in the process of dying. In the light of this knowledge, the position of dying people is unsatisfactory.
Imaginations and desires concerning one's own death and dying are formed based on experience of relatives with the death and dying. This experience is determined by the quality of the care provided for the dying person. It is possible to expect that a human can only accept his/her death and dying as a natural part of the life, if quality care for dying people is provided. Care for dying people must be complex and must include not only alleviation of pain but also care for psychosocial and spiritual needs of the dying person.

Keywords: dying; death; relationship; hospice care; palliative care

Received: January 21, 2009; Accepted: March 30, 2009; Published: December 18, 2009  Show citation