[Terminal care--a burden for professional and familial caregivers?].

Within a framework of the results of thanatological research the main concerns of caring for the dying are worked out. It is shown that the personal besides education and training on the job needs a sort of permanent supervision in that field of work. Nevertheless caring for the dying will be a burden as long as the society neglects and ignores the needs of dying people. This is also true for the members of the family, friends and other nonprofessional people, who engage themselves in the care for the dying.