Have you ever volunteered to listen to those who are dying or near death? To spend time with them?

Question

Does religion play a roll in what you say or the activities you choose to do?

Answer 1

I watched a friend of mine die. It's not fun. He didn't say much. I didn't either.

Answer 2

Well, I never really volunteered, but in 1968 in Viet Nam I saw more people dying and dead than I care to think about. I held men in my arms as the life drained out of them on more than one occasion. Not pleasant little deaths. Bloody, gory, screaming kinds of death. I heard more men crying out for their mothers than for god. Religion plays no part in my life. I've still have nightmares frequently about those days. I know this might not be what you were looking for in the way of answers...but it's my story. And unfortunately all true.

Answer 3

absolutely...
i sat with my grandfather on his death bed when he was suffering from lung cancer. his last 3-4 months of his life were really hard....in that i mean he constantly talked about how much he loved everybody, he asked all of us for forgiveness for everything he ever did wrong, he told us all the things that hurt him or bothered him in his life....most of the time all we could do was just sit there and cry....it's such a hard thing to see some one go through, especially when it's someone you know and love. and i used to work in a nursing home, and a lot of the people there were on their last leg....it was SO hard, becuase i was the activites person, and it was my job to go around to each of them and talk/listen. Yes, religion does play a role in what you say to them. If they are saved then usually they're not scared and you can talk with them about the joy of going to heaven. If they're not, a lot of them (in my experience) were very sad and scared, cried a lot. Death is SUCH a hard thing to deal with.

Answer 4

No, I haven't yet, but it's been on my heart to do so. Religion doesn't play a role,those things should be from the heart, which God knows. Some religions do have a committee that do those things. It's an awesome thing though.

Answer 5

Yes. When my grandmother was dying, I volunteered to stay with her so she wouldn't be alone. I think the most important thing you can do for them to listen to what they have to say. I think that when they know there isn't much time left.. .they tend to want to get things of their chests. Some of it may not make much sense to you at the time, but remember it becuase it might make sense to you later on.

Answer 6

Yes. I volunteer with a group in Southern California that visits end-stage cancer and AIDS patients. We do housework, cook meals, run errands, or just spend time with them.

I am not religious. Religion plays no part in my volunteer work.

Answer 7

I made my living caring for dying people for years. The person's religion had a role in what I said sometimes. I gave comfort in terms each person could understand.

Answer 8

Yes i have. My religion played a role in things i said or did, but not with everything.

Answer 9

Ohh number of unfortunatly :(
.....During my house job this year.....Wel this year brought number of experiences to me i have just finshed with housejob....sister it is always tough to see someone dying while you are attending them..and their relatives are looking at you with hope......humen are such a helpless creation i feel sometimes...though at the end I got bit passionate to see them ..because most the time peoples bring the patients at end stages and sometimes they just die when they reach hospital..

there are many whose death i could never forget in my life...especialy two lady of late thirtees( because of their young kids) and a young gal of early 20s whose marriage date was fixed...i literaly cried all the day for them

I don't remeber wht i used to do, well only intension we have that time is to bring back the pulse but i have the habbit of praying while giving medicine.... always asking God to help me but see no one can change the time of death...and my seniors used to make fun of me....saying behave like a doc i could't learn during my 6 months of medicine housejob how to behave like a doc :)
So i prefer to pray to God while being with someone when they are dying. though sometimes one knows that it wont work..but just keeping a hope...

Answer 10

I wouldn't say "volunteered". It's part of my sacred vow to bring the Sacraments to the dying.

Religion and Christ's Presence in the Holy Sacraments are a great comfort to those who are dying.

And to me, as well.

Answer 11

Yes, I have worked with the dying. If the opportunity comes where I can tell them about my faith I do. If not then I treat them with respect and dignity and as their faith demands.