Spending time with a person before they die can be very meaningful to many people. Some family members may not wish to approach the person who is actively dying; there can be many reasons for this, but a common one is shock. Ask family members if they’d like to be present. It may help to suggest a place to sit, and invite them to talk, touch or hold hands with the dying or deceased person if they wish. You might ask: 

Being present at the death

Some people prefer not to be present at the moment of death. That’s okay. Help them find a place to sit quietly. Let them know when death has occurred.