Every person is unique and will have their own experience of death and dying.

How a person reacts will depend on the type of person, their life experiences, their age and their religious and spiritual beliefs.

Their thoughts and feelings may change as they go through the different stages of grief and as their physical and emotional wellbeing changes.

Someone who is dying at a young age is likely to feel differently to someone who has enjoyed a long life.

People often feel differently about older people who are dying to younger people who have not enjoyed a long life.

A dying person who is leaving young children behind will have different concerns to a person whose children are fully grown and able to take care of themselves.

This short video (4:49m) published by Cancer Research UK tells the story of Gareth who was 25 years old when diagnosed with synovia sarcoma. Gareth shares his brave story about managing terminal cancer. This is the perspective of a young person faced with dying. 

Terminal Cancer: Gareth’s story | Cancer Research UK

Watch Gareth share his brave story on terminal cancer. 25-year-old Gareth was in the army in 2015 when he was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma. He had his leg amputated to remove the cancer, and was able to join the Paralympic Team GB squad.

People may react differently when faced with shocking news that death will occur soon. There is no right or wrong way for them to react.

Some people avoid talking about death because:

• They are afraid of death and dying
• They are simply uncomfortable talking about it 
• They are trying to protect others from the situation, or
• They fear saying the wrong thing. 

If you are supporting people at the end of their life, you will need to have or develop your knowledge and skills so you feel confident to discuss dying. You should encourage the people close to the dying individual to discuss death and to include children using words they will understand.  

Talking about what will make a person comfortable at the end of their lives, will enable you to consider this in the care and support you provide.  

A person’s wishes and preferences should be clearly recorded in their care and support plan.

Relatives and friends are usually concerned about making sure the individual does not suffer, particularly at the end stage.

These are the ways you can support a person who is grieving:

Dying Matters provide useful resources about talking about death and dying, what to say, how to say it and where to find help.

“To the well-organised mind, 

death is but the next great adventure“

J.K.Rowling