The Role Of A Deathwalker

Death comes for all of us, sometimes it’s fast and sometimes it’s gradual. It is a unique experience for each one of us. The role of a Deathwalker is to be an end-of-life caregiver - a person trained in the dying process - to treat the dying with support, care, compassion and respect. For the person who is dying there is no prospect of getting well or “being fixed”. A Deathwalker helps you to “die well” with a sense of dignity. In all end-of-life work the goal is to be there to support the dying person, through the pre-death process and also following their death. This includes supporting the family, friends and loved one’s of the dying person. It includes the whole timeline from diagnosis to death, and beyond. The Deathwalker can also provide support and guidance through the funeral arrangements. It is a completely different relationship to that of caregivers in hospice and palliative care who don’t have a lot of time to spend with patients. Deathwalkers usually operate independently, outside the mainstream medical models, and their approach is more personalised than that of a palliative care nurse or hospice worker.  

No matter your age, please make your wishes known and give someone the power to help you live and die in the manner of your choosing.