ABSTRACT
Spirituality is as varied in definition and scope as is the person. The patient had been doing relatively well for some time after entering the hospice program. Some unfinished business is financial, some is spiritual. Some people have lists of things that “just have to be done” before death occurs. Unfinished spiritual business can cause a great deal of anguish in the heart of the dying patient. With the onset of a terminal illness, there is often a sense of urgency in the dying patient to complete unfinished business. Unfinished business can sometimes mean doing the hard work in reconciliation of estranged relationships. Another piece of unfinished business is the distribution of possessions to the survivors before death occurs. Spirituality is developed internally, although external experiences can shape and help determine the type and level of spirituality a person possesses.
