Services - Active Dying
There are noticeable changes that may take place as a person begins active dying. These changes may be present for a few hours or up to several days prior to death. In his book, Caring for the Dying, Henry Fersko-Weiss explains active dying.
"The dying person can no longer eat, barely takes sips of fluid, may only mouth a word or two, and can hardly move a hand or leg. Their blood pressure drops dramatically from what was normal for them, and there is a corresponding increase in the pulse rate, which is more irregular in strength and rhythm. Dramatic changes occur in breathing, slowing or speeding up - sometimes both - with pauses between that can go on for up to a minute. All the autonomic systems of the body go haywire. The person may spike a fever for no apparent reason; the colour of their skin changes. Their eyes may stay partly open without blinking, but it's also clear that they aren't seeing ... The body is shutting down and has no chance of coming back. Generally, a nurse or a doctor will decide when a person starts to die actively. But there is no exact science to making that determination - it is always a judgement call based on experience."
This process may seem quite frightening to many because we, as a society, have been separated from normal dying for so long. But it is a path as old as humanity and as familiar as the rising of the sun for those who wish to acknowledge it.
While the person is actively dying, Tidal may be able to help with some of the following:
Vigil companioning; being present, learning and experiencing along with you
Managing the expectations of others
Holding sacred space for the person who is dying
Providing information on the active dying process
Determining who to call if you run into difficulty
When the death occurs:
- Sitting with the body and feeling your feelings
- Initiating rituals
- Beginning the grieving and healing process
- Who do I call and when?
- Initiating the funeral plan
"The dying person can no longer eat, barely takes sips of fluid, may only mouth a word or two, and can hardly move a hand or leg. Their blood pressure drops dramatically from what was normal for them, and there is a corresponding increase in the pulse rate, which is more irregular in strength and rhythm. Dramatic changes occur in breathing, slowing or speeding up - sometimes both - with pauses between that can go on for up to a minute. All the autonomic systems of the body go haywire. The person may spike a fever for no apparent reason; the colour of their skin changes. Their eyes may stay partly open without blinking, but it's also clear that they aren't seeing ... The body is shutting down and has no chance of coming back. Generally, a nurse or a doctor will decide when a person starts to die actively. But there is no exact science to making that determination - it is always a judgement call based on experience."
This process may seem quite frightening to many because we, as a society, have been separated from normal dying for so long. But it is a path as old as humanity and as familiar as the rising of the sun for those who wish to acknowledge it.
While the person is actively dying, Tidal may be able to help with some of the following:
Vigil companioning; being present, learning and experiencing along with you
Managing the expectations of others
Holding sacred space for the person who is dying
Providing information on the active dying process
Determining who to call if you run into difficulty
When the death occurs:
- Sitting with the body and feeling your feelings
- Initiating rituals
- Beginning the grieving and healing process
- Who do I call and when?
- Initiating the funeral plan
If you would like to discuss any of the services offered by Tidal, please contact me at your earliest convenience.