ABSTRACT
The care of the terminal patient and his family within health care agencies and in the home requires continual support and assistance from people who are themselves prepared to cope with the stresses involved in death and dying. The goal of modern health care in terminal illness is to meet the complex needs of the dying and to prevent burnout in the practitioners who are dedicated to providing these services. The Guidelines are specifically designed to meet the needs of any health care agency wanting to develop a training program for its staff and are applicable to any size or complexity of health care institution. The benefits of thanatology training programs within health care institutions are that they provide support, insight and sharing of feelings and mutual problems. One way to alleviate the problem of burnout in practitioners is through a viable thanatology program that is designed to meet the needs of staff as they help those who are dying.
