How can nursing assistants best provide emotional support to dying residents?

Providing emotional support to dying residents is a critical aspect of nursing care. Listening more is essential because it allows residents to express their feelings, thoughts, and fears during this vulnerable time. When nursing assistants actively listen to residents, they convey understanding, empathy, and validation of the residents’ experiences. This can significantly help in alleviating feelings of isolation or anxiety, as residents often need someone to hear their concerns and emotions.

Listening shows that the nursing assistant values what the resident has to say, which can create a trusting relationship essential for emotional support. It also gives residents a chance to share memories or wishes, which is an important part of their emotional experience as they face the end of life. In contrast, avoiding conversation would lead to increased feelings of loneliness, while giving personal advice or focusing on the assistant's own experiences could detract from the residents' needs and concerns during such a sensitive period.