P1005 Spanish: The Active Dying Process: What to Expect and How You Can Comfort Your Loved One

For our Spanish-speaking patients and their loved ones, we have translated our Active Dying Process Pocket Guide.  The active dying phase can be a tender or confusing time as loved ones gather to “sit vigil” during the time with a patient is actively dying, and the pressure upon team members to explain symptoms, as well as predict when a patient will die, is often intense. 

There are two phases which arise prior to the actual time of death: the "pre-active phase of dying," and the "active phase of dying." On average, the pre-active phase of dying may last approximately two weeks, while on average, the active phase of dying lasts about three days. This is a time of questions for the loved ones, who may be too exhausted, distracted, or grief stricken to read an entire booklet, such as our Nature Gave Us Butterflies booklet.  Our answer to this emotional need for families has been to condense the beloved Nature Gave Us Butterflies booklet into this handy Pocket Guide to leave with the family during the pre-active and active death phase of care.  When concentration levels are low, and caregivers are exhausted, we answer these needs with our Pocket Guide series, which delivers information in smaller doses, and allows the family to gain valuable information in more digestible portions.

Knowing what to expect empowers everyone, and can help reinforce the information the nurse and other team members have provided, especially at a time when the caregiver may simply be too overwhelmed or exhausted to take in any more information.  For the times in which a patient is admitted already pre-active or actively dying, this beautiful and informative pocket guide is an easy to read, as well an as easy to understand resource. It is one more tangible way to ensure you have provided information continuity, training and help with symptoms, as well as consistent team communication. 

As always, we want to make your job easier, as well as provide proven and effective instructive resources to the patient and family.  This handy reference guide is a front line educational tool that benefits patients, families and on-call team members alike.  Think of this card as a “satellite” to Nature Gave Us Butterflies.  Many hospices tuck this card in the back of the booklet for future reference.  

The front of the card offers information on the physical signs and symptoms, and the back side offers information on emotional and spiritual symptoms.