 |
||
 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 Essential
Aspects Of Care - Death, Dying and Bereavement (5)
Care of the Dying Respect of the dying and dead is a universal concept across cultural and religious practices. When caring for the dying person, one has to be aware of the cultural and religious aspects of what is expected and preferred with respect to the wishes of the individual, family and relatives and the ethnic/cultural/religious community. In certain situations and according to the expectations of family members, the dying person may wish to be cared for by a family member, or wish to die at home. The religious rites associated with the care of the dying are influenced not only by religious beliefs but also by cultural practices. In most religions, some form of prayers are offered. In some instances, reading from the relevant Holy Book, chanting or incantations may be carried out. For example, with a Sikh patient, reciting from the Guru Granth Sahab is deeply significant. In Christianity, sacraments confer spiritual gifts, and baptism holds great significance, and symbolises entry into the family of Christ. When the person is very ill and near death, generally prayers and sacrament may be offered. For the dying patient who follows the Roman Catholic faith the last rites may be offered. The priest anoints the person ‘on the forehead and hands in a ceremony which symbolises forgiveness, healing and reconciliation’ (Green, 1993, p. 4). Great significance is attached to the last rites as a transition from this life. In the Free Churches, there are no sacraments other than what is considered to be in the form of personal inner experience. In Islam, the person sits or lies down, with the head facing towards Mecca. A call to prayer is whispered in the ear. The Hindu person may wish to lie on the floor as a symbol of closeness to Mother Earth. A thread may be tied to the wrist or neck, blessed water sprinkled, and a tulsi leaf placed in the mouth. The Jewish patient may "wish to hear or recite special psalms, particularly psalm 23 (The Lord is my Shepherd) and the special prayer (The Shema)" (Green, 1991, p. 8). At death, some religious customs forbid the touching of the body by a person who is not of the same religion, for example, Judaism and Islam. In certain customs, the family or relatives may prefer to prepare the body for burial or cremation. For instance, in Hinduism it is believed that the responsibility and duty (dharma) of family members to the dead persons can only be complete through observance of such practice (Laungani, 1996).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
