nursing; caring for the sick
General term for looking after someone who is ill or bedridden, often with a sense of attentive care.
I took time off work to care for my sick mother.
deathwatch; attendance at a deathbed
Specifically refers to being present and caring for someone in their final moments; often used in hospice or end-of-life contexts.
I'm glad I was able to be present at my grandfather's deathbed.
More families are hoping to provide nursing care at home.
The experience of attending a deathbed is important for nurses.
Standard kanji spelling for nursing and deathbed care; 看 carries the nuance of watching over someone.
Alternate spelling using 見 (to see/watch); less specific than 看取り but still used.
Compound of 看 (watch over, care for) and 取り (noun form of 取る, here meaning 'to take on the role of'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is conventionally associated with attentive nursing and end-of-life care.