Meeting those who are dying often leaves people feeling helpless and lost for words. Nurses face the questions “What can we still do?” and “How can we provide adequate support for the dying on their final journey?” The authors answer these questions by transferring the concept of basal stimulation to support for the dying and describe its possible applications in palliative care and hospice work. They document the differences between end-of-life care in hospices, hospitals and retirement homes. They describe how peoples’ experience, perception and bodily functions change during the dying process and what alleviates their symptoms. In so doing, they also demonstrate how nurses overcome hesitancy and insecurity through touch and support and allow hands and gestures to talk when verbal language falls silent.