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The Dying Process: Your Essential Guide To Understanding Signs, Symptoms & Changes At The End Of Life
*Have you been told someone you love is dying? Are you feeling lost, overwhelmed, anxious, or feeling like you have no idea what to do or what to expect? Are you determined to keep the one you love free from pain and discomfort? Are you desperate for help? Then keep reading…*"As a physician, I am constantly struck by how little guidance the medical community provides around care at the end of life -- it is truly one of the greatest gaps in our care of patients. The Dying Process takes a bold step toward beginning to fill that gap by leaning into some of the difficult conversations that arise around the topic of death and dying." - Lauren Pace, MD
Death is an inescapable part of human life.
Yet, as magnificent as modern medicine has become, it simply does not prepare us for this inevitable reality.
And so, when that time does come…
When we find out someone we love is dying...
We are overcome with shock, sadness, and fear.
As a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Death Coach, Katie Duncan has been an end-of-life guide for many precious humans and a mentor to their heartbroken families.
Through her years of experience with death and dying, Duncan explains the process as transitional stages beginning months before death.
She will leave caregivers feeling empowered and prepared in what is likely to be the most challenging, vulnerable, and distressing time of their life.
In this guidebook, you will discover...
Expertise walking you through the last moments of human life.Simple yet effective ways to keeping your loved one free from pain and discomfort.Forgotten but essential “To-Do’s” before the death of a loved one.Surprising ways death and dying are similar to birth.Powerful stories that will open your eyes to the unique treasures of death and dying.Remarkable ways death and dying lend the opportunity for so much beauty, wonder, and tranquility.Crucial self-care techniques to avoid caregiver burnout.The most meaningful words to share and the most precious gifts you can give your loved one before they die.The Dying Process will reframe your fears and uncertainties when caring for someone at the end of life.
Whether you are a family member searching for answers, a caregiver looking for recommendations, or a friend just trying to understand, you will receive invaluable tools and guidance to support your loved one through the last days of their life.
If you want to help your dying loved one find peace at the end of their life's journey, scroll up and click "Buy now with 1-Click!"
Death is an inescapable part of human life.
Yet, as magnificent as modern medicine has become, it simply does not prepare us for this inevitable reality.
And so, when that time does come…
When we find out someone we love is dying...
We are overcome with shock, sadness, and fear.
As a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Death Coach, Katie Duncan has been an end-of-life guide for many precious humans and a mentor to their heartbroken families.
Through her years of experience with death and dying, Duncan explains the process as transitional stages beginning months before death.
She will leave caregivers feeling empowered and prepared in what is likely to be the most challenging, vulnerable, and distressing time of their life.
In this guidebook, you will discover...
Expertise walking you through the last moments of human life.Simple yet effective ways to keeping your loved one free from pain and discomfort.Forgotten but essential “To-Do’s” before the death of a loved one.Surprising ways death and dying are similar to birth.Powerful stories that will open your eyes to the unique treasures of death and dying.Remarkable ways death and dying lend the opportunity for so much beauty, wonder, and tranquility.Crucial self-care techniques to avoid caregiver burnout.The most meaningful words to share and the most precious gifts you can give your loved one before they die.The Dying Process will reframe your fears and uncertainties when caring for someone at the end of life.
Whether you are a family member searching for answers, a caregiver looking for recommendations, or a friend just trying to understand, you will receive invaluable tools and guidance to support your loved one through the last days of their life.
If you want to help your dying loved one find peace at the end of their life's journey, scroll up and click "Buy now with 1-Click!"
88 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2021
330 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 28, 2021
Encouraging and helpful book for people of all beliefs. The book is short (I read it in two sittings) so it's perfect for those busy caring for a dying loved one. Lots of practical advice. I particularly appreciated the suggestion to appoint a spokesperson (see one of the quotes below). The author is extremely qualified and experienced. Highly recommended!
We learn to see death and dying as a tragic failure, which it is not. Rather, it is simply a part of our life’s journey. It is a part of our story.
And it is our mortality that makes our lives precious, treasured, and meaningful.
To help prevent burnout, delegate a spokesperson, someone who will communicate to others on your behalf and the only person you will need to keep informed. This person may be a close friend, another family member, or someone you trust. Feel encouraged to direct everyone to this dedicated spokesperson from the start of your loved one’s end-of-life journey. Release the pressure of this responsibility.
Giving your loved one your permission to die is perhaps the most beautiful gift you could ever give them. Treasure this knowledge deep in your heart as you permit them to leave this physical world, and launch them with love and grace into the realms of the unknown.
We learn to see death and dying as a tragic failure, which it is not. Rather, it is simply a part of our life’s journey. It is a part of our story.
And it is our mortality that makes our lives precious, treasured, and meaningful.
To help prevent burnout, delegate a spokesperson, someone who will communicate to others on your behalf and the only person you will need to keep informed. This person may be a close friend, another family member, or someone you trust. Feel encouraged to direct everyone to this dedicated spokesperson from the start of your loved one’s end-of-life journey. Release the pressure of this responsibility.
Giving your loved one your permission to die is perhaps the most beautiful gift you could ever give them. Treasure this knowledge deep in your heart as you permit them to leave this physical world, and launch them with love and grace into the realms of the unknown.
March 7, 2024
O carte scurtă dar foarte informativă, sensibilă și necesară.
September 13, 2023
VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND
I can't exactly say the book topic was "enjoyable" or that it was purchased as a "pleasure read" but I DID and DO find some comfort in it... Having said goodbye to my dearly loved Mom not even two months ago due to cancer, I found myself wishing as I read, that I'd found the book BEFORE this painful but necessary journey started. It would have been so helpful for myself and my family! However I guess it wasn't meant to be until now.
Reading this book felt like a conversation with a trusted friend. It felt almost as if we'd had a conversation on a difficult painful topic and afterwards I found support in the fact we'd talked and shared a hug. The book is simple, practical and easily read in one sitting --although I will likely go back for a reread because of the understanding it brought and the validation that what I experienced was a part of life, normal and inevitable.
Thanks Katie Duncan for an informative and meaningful book!
I can't exactly say the book topic was "enjoyable" or that it was purchased as a "pleasure read" but I DID and DO find some comfort in it... Having said goodbye to my dearly loved Mom not even two months ago due to cancer, I found myself wishing as I read, that I'd found the book BEFORE this painful but necessary journey started. It would have been so helpful for myself and my family! However I guess it wasn't meant to be until now.
Reading this book felt like a conversation with a trusted friend. It felt almost as if we'd had a conversation on a difficult painful topic and afterwards I found support in the fact we'd talked and shared a hug. The book is simple, practical and easily read in one sitting --although I will likely go back for a reread because of the understanding it brought and the validation that what I experienced was a part of life, normal and inevitable.
Thanks Katie Duncan for an informative and meaningful book!
September 15, 2025
This turned out to be a very short read. I’ve been to a couple funerals in close proximity, and had seen a book on Amazon about dying (not free) that led me ultimately to this one (free on Kindle Unlimited - which one pays for), so I’d added it to my KU books, but hadn’t read it. Then I couldn’t sleep last night/this morning despite being very tired, so I picked this one up thinking it might make me sleepy since it’s nonfiction. But it’s a topic that interests me and it’s very concise. Duncan gets in, tells the reader what she’s going to write, then addresses exactly those topics in a chronological order that makes sense, and then wraps things up. So, I read the whole thing and still was awake. It’s consistent with another book I read long ago by two hospice nurses in terms of what little it says of the emotional and perhaps spiritual experiences of the person dying, and has a lot more about the physical process…less maybe about what’s going on medically, and more about what a non-medically trained caregiver is likely to see and experience and how to provide care. Very practical and presumably helpful - as might be expected from a nurse.
I’m not in immediate need of this sort of book either in my own life or for anyone else…yet. But I’m getting to the point where I will be glad of the knowledge this sort of book offers, I think, and it’s good to be however prepared one can be for losing the people you love the most in a way that preserves dignity and humanity for the person dying, and provides freedom from fear and uncertainty and needless guilt.
I’m not in immediate need of this sort of book either in my own life or for anyone else…yet. But I’m getting to the point where I will be glad of the knowledge this sort of book offers, I think, and it’s good to be however prepared one can be for losing the people you love the most in a way that preserves dignity and humanity for the person dying, and provides freedom from fear and uncertainty and needless guilt.
October 23, 2021
Guidance through end-of-life care
Katie Duncan's book, "The Dying Process" provides wisdom from her years of healthcare work experience as a technician, nurse, nurse practitioner, and professor. Duncan provides insights to how we might better include end-of-life care as a treatment option when it appears to be the best treatment option available. I was surprised to see Duncan's beautiful comparison between the many stages and phases of birth and death, emphasizing that each person's experiences will be completely unique to them. I love the way Duncan's book provides guidance to help ensure that you do not feel helpless or alone, and that your loved one dies in peace. While the stages of death and dying might be somewhat different than this guidebook describes, "The Dying Process" provides marvelous suggestions for things we can do at each juncture, in order to feel most helpful and connected, in ways that can deepen connections and a sense of peace. Packed with helpful suggestions, this book is worth its weight in gold just for providing reassurance that you can do something as simple as sharing a few words that grant them the comfort of your grace, your peace, and your love.
Katie Duncan's book, "The Dying Process" provides wisdom from her years of healthcare work experience as a technician, nurse, nurse practitioner, and professor. Duncan provides insights to how we might better include end-of-life care as a treatment option when it appears to be the best treatment option available. I was surprised to see Duncan's beautiful comparison between the many stages and phases of birth and death, emphasizing that each person's experiences will be completely unique to them. I love the way Duncan's book provides guidance to help ensure that you do not feel helpless or alone, and that your loved one dies in peace. While the stages of death and dying might be somewhat different than this guidebook describes, "The Dying Process" provides marvelous suggestions for things we can do at each juncture, in order to feel most helpful and connected, in ways that can deepen connections and a sense of peace. Packed with helpful suggestions, this book is worth its weight in gold just for providing reassurance that you can do something as simple as sharing a few words that grant them the comfort of your grace, your peace, and your love.
October 17, 2021
My experience was the same
Well done in taking the process from experience to the page in a totally understandable way. I would recommend this book to everyone. We all have experience of loved ones dying. As a former nurse myself, my experiences were the same. She has given us the tools to make this experience manageable in ways that help us to truly understand the process and how to help ourselves and the dying to have the best outcome and the least confusion about the process. Short but covers everything we need to know. Hats off to Katie Duncan for demystifying the process and help to know what to expect and how to do it to help everyone involved. As I am 80 years old it is a roadmap for me as to what to expect from my own dying process. I wish I could give it ten stars.
Well done in taking the process from experience to the page in a totally understandable way. I would recommend this book to everyone. We all have experience of loved ones dying. As a former nurse myself, my experiences were the same. She has given us the tools to make this experience manageable in ways that help us to truly understand the process and how to help ourselves and the dying to have the best outcome and the least confusion about the process. Short but covers everything we need to know. Hats off to Katie Duncan for demystifying the process and help to know what to expect and how to do it to help everyone involved. As I am 80 years old it is a roadmap for me as to what to expect from my own dying process. I wish I could give it ten stars.
January 9, 2022
Death and dying
Thank you!!! I wish I had found this book years ago when I cared for my Mother her last nine years of life. All was normal until the last two months. I had no idea what to expect and it scared me to wake one morning to her dead body. No-one prepares you for what that looks like, but your book has given a peace of mind. I will suggest everyone to read whether they are at that point or nit. Its good information to have.
Thank you!!! I wish I had found this book years ago when I cared for my Mother her last nine years of life. All was normal until the last two months. I had no idea what to expect and it scared me to wake one morning to her dead body. No-one prepares you for what that looks like, but your book has given a peace of mind. I will suggest everyone to read whether they are at that point or nit. Its good information to have.
October 26, 2022
I love this short, informative book. It feels like NP Duncan is there, in the room, talking you through some of the most difficult pieces of the dying process. She is candid, yet poised and concise. Her explanations are broken down well, which is so important, as sometimes medical lingo begins flying around, leaving families and loved ones feeling lost.
As a hospice social worker, I think many families I work with would benefit greatly from this reassuring book.
As a hospice social worker, I think many families I work with would benefit greatly from this reassuring book.
May 29, 2022
I would like to thank Ms. Katie Duncan for writing this book! It is a very informative and direct. I think it is very beneficial to anyone who is going through the dying process with a loved one. I so wished I had read this book a long time ago, how beneficial it would have been to me and my family so many times already!
March 2, 2023
A Well-Written Guide to the Dying Process
This is a comprehensive and well-written guide to the dying process. It is most informative and gives understanding to readers who may not be familiar with the stages of death. I am very appreciative to have read this at this time. As I know, it is knowledge I can use for friends, relatives, and myself one day.
This is a comprehensive and well-written guide to the dying process. It is most informative and gives understanding to readers who may not be familiar with the stages of death. I am very appreciative to have read this at this time. As I know, it is knowledge I can use for friends, relatives, and myself one day.
May 2, 2024
I am calmer noe
For days I have been in a panic, confused mad and generally sad. This book has given me a sense of calm. What I might expect or understand and even how to handle it. Suggesting tool physically and emotionally.
Now I know these are not exactly what will happen as all journeys are different but I feel more prepared.
Thank you Katie
For days I have been in a panic, confused mad and generally sad. This book has given me a sense of calm. What I might expect or understand and even how to handle it. Suggesting tool physically and emotionally.
Now I know these are not exactly what will happen as all journeys are different but I feel more prepared.
Thank you Katie
September 7, 2025
a necessary read
I’m in this process right now. This was needed for me right now and I read in 30mins. I now need to know how do I get my brother to read and understand. How do you get family to stop projecting how you should respond or feel and realize I am doing the research and making sure she is comfortable in the best way possible. Thank you for this book.
I’m in this process right now. This was needed for me right now and I read in 30mins. I now need to know how do I get my brother to read and understand. How do you get family to stop projecting how you should respond or feel and realize I am doing the research and making sure she is comfortable in the best way possible. Thank you for this book.
October 1, 2021
A very good book for those who have not gone thru any of this. I have a number of times so I know what is written here is correct in all the things that were described happening to the sick and dying.
This is definitely a book worth reading for everyone.
This is definitely a book worth reading for everyone.
October 18, 2021
What I did not know
I wish I read this book earlier in my life. I am not a care giver at this time. I am 80 so this book has special meaning. I plan to live fully until my time comes.
I wish I read this book earlier in my life. I am not a care giver at this time. I am 80 so this book has special meaning. I plan to live fully until my time comes.
September 30, 2022
This is a beautifully written book that truly explains the dying process in easy to understand and complete information. As I am writing this while sitting in a Hospice room awaiting the inevitable, this book was a true comfort to me.
December 3, 2022
succinct read
This was a succinct read going through the phases of death. It prepares one for what is to come and how to approach it. Death is not easy but having a guide beforehand can alleviate some of the unknowns about death.
This was a succinct read going through the phases of death. It prepares one for what is to come and how to approach it. Death is not easy but having a guide beforehand can alleviate some of the unknowns about death.
October 26, 2023
Worth a quick read
This guide is simple and straightforward. Provided comfort to both caregivers and the patients themselves (me) definitely worth it for a small bit of peace of mind
This guide is simple and straightforward. Provided comfort to both caregivers and the patients themselves (me) definitely worth it for a small bit of peace of mind
November 24, 2024
Preparing for the death of a loved one is never easy…
…but this booklet helps make it doable. Clear, easy instructions for how to care for not only a dying loved one, but also for one’s self.
…but this booklet helps make it doable. Clear, easy instructions for how to care for not only a dying loved one, but also for one’s self.
February 11, 2025
While it is a short read it is everything you need to understand and cope with a loved one who is actively dying. It will also give you insight on how to help your loved one move on to the next part of their journey with peace and love.
February 24, 2025
practical tips for family.
This is a brief and somewhat superficial overview of caring for a family member who is dying. There are some specific suggestions that are helpful and in my experience accurate.
This is a brief and somewhat superficial overview of caring for a family member who is dying. There are some specific suggestions that are helpful and in my experience accurate.
November 8, 2025
The Dying Process - Katie Duncan
Very good reading for anyone with an aging loved one. I learned things I wish I’d known when my father was dying. Be prepared so you can make the end of life easier for you and your loved one.
Very good reading for anyone with an aging loved one. I learned things I wish I’d known when my father was dying. Be prepared so you can make the end of life easier for you and your loved one.
July 6, 2022
As I hospice nurse this book is very well done. Great for caregivers.
March 24, 2023
Inspires Confidence
I now can now face the upcoming death of my sister with less fear. The guidance offered is presented in an understandable form.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ TH IS.
I now can now face the upcoming death of my sister with less fear. The guidance offered is presented in an understandable form.
EVERYONE SHOULD READ TH IS.
August 30, 2023
A simple to read informative guide that goes though what typically happens as someone is dying. I found this to be useful and easy to understand.
November 21, 2023
Very short with good information.
May 25, 2025
Very brief overview
January 2, 2026
Short book, good to read for someone is facing loved ones death.
April 27, 2024
**Book Review: The Dying Process: Your Essential Guide To Understanding Signs, Symptoms & Changes At The End Of Life by Katie Duncan**
"The Dying Process" by Katie Duncan is a profound and insightful guide that provides invaluable support to those facing the end of life. This book was instrumental in helping me understand and navigate the process when my husband passed away. His openness about his own mortality and his wishes for his end-of-life journey were echoed in the pages of this book, making it a comforting companion during a challenging time.
Katie Duncan, with her background as a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Death Coach, brings a wealth of experience to this guide. She explains the dying process as transitional stages that begin months before death, providing a roadmap for what to expect. This knowledge is empowering and prepares caregivers for what is likely to be a challenging, vulnerable, and distressing time.
The book offers practical advice on keeping a loved one free from pain and discomfort, essential tasks to complete before the death of a loved one, and self-care techniques to avoid caregiver burnout. It also highlights the surprising similarities between death and birth, offering a unique perspective that reframes fears and uncertainties.
What I found particularly moving were the powerful stories that opened my eyes to the unique treasures of death and dying. These narratives reveal the beauty, wonder, and tranquility that can be found in this natural part of life. They have made me much more open to discussing dying, recognizing it as a natural part of living.
"The Dying Process" is a compassionate and enlightening guide that fills a significant gap in our understanding of end-of-life care. It is a must-read for family members, caregivers, or friends seeking answers and recommendations to support their loved ones through the last days of their life. This book is a testament to the power of knowledge, empathy, and love in the face of death. It is a guide that I am deeply grateful for and one that I highly recommend.
"The Dying Process" by Katie Duncan is a profound and insightful guide that provides invaluable support to those facing the end of life. This book was instrumental in helping me understand and navigate the process when my husband passed away. His openness about his own mortality and his wishes for his end-of-life journey were echoed in the pages of this book, making it a comforting companion during a challenging time.
Katie Duncan, with her background as a Nurse Practitioner, educator, and Death Coach, brings a wealth of experience to this guide. She explains the dying process as transitional stages that begin months before death, providing a roadmap for what to expect. This knowledge is empowering and prepares caregivers for what is likely to be a challenging, vulnerable, and distressing time.
The book offers practical advice on keeping a loved one free from pain and discomfort, essential tasks to complete before the death of a loved one, and self-care techniques to avoid caregiver burnout. It also highlights the surprising similarities between death and birth, offering a unique perspective that reframes fears and uncertainties.
What I found particularly moving were the powerful stories that opened my eyes to the unique treasures of death and dying. These narratives reveal the beauty, wonder, and tranquility that can be found in this natural part of life. They have made me much more open to discussing dying, recognizing it as a natural part of living.
"The Dying Process" is a compassionate and enlightening guide that fills a significant gap in our understanding of end-of-life care. It is a must-read for family members, caregivers, or friends seeking answers and recommendations to support their loved ones through the last days of their life. This book is a testament to the power of knowledge, empathy, and love in the face of death. It is a guide that I am deeply grateful for and one that I highly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews