Care for a terminally ill person: A guide for pastors

Abstract

Everybody is faced with unique challenges and experiences during his/her life cycle. Some experiences are sudden and untimely, whereas others are expected. Terminal illness remains an unpleasant experience of an emotional, psychological, social and spiritual nature, whether it was sudden or expected. In order to deal with or care for the terminally ill in an effective way, it is important for professionals such as pastors to understand the terminally ill person’s fears, his/her needs and emotional experiences. In this article attention is given to the latter as well as to the specialised skills and techniques that could be implemented to ensure efficient humane and compassionate care for the terminally ill.