Knowing how to offer comfort and support to a loved one who
has a terminal illness can be challenging. What can you say or
do? How can you help your loved one cope? How will you deal
with your own grief? Get the facts about supporting a loved
one who is terminally ill.
My loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal
illness. How might our relationship change?
Your relationship with your loved one might not necessarily
change because he or she has a terminal illness. If you're
concerned, try to build on your relationship's strengths. It's
also important to be open to new possibilities. A loved one's
terminal diagnosis might improve your relationship.
How can I help my loved one cope with a terminal
illness?
Let your loved one know that you're willing to listen to his or
her concerns — and never underestimate the value of your
presence. Even if it feels as if you're not doing anything, your
presence sends an important message. Don't, however, try to
be a counselor.
Is there a typical emotional process that a person
who has terminal illness experiences?
Dying isn't a science. Don't assume that a loved one who has
a terminal illness is going to go through a methodical process
of coming to terms with death. It might not happen that way.
Acceptance or accommodation might be the most desirable
outcome of the grieving process — learning to live as fully as
possible while accepting the presence of a terminal illness. But
does your loved one have to accept that he or she has a
terminal illness? Does your loved one have to accept that he
or she is going to die before he or she expected? No. There's
no right or wrong way to come to terms with death.
How do you help a loved one who's in denial about
his or her impending death?
Denial is an important coping mechanism. Your loved one
might be in denial because reality is too frightening, too
overwhelming, or too much of a threat to his or her sense of
control. Denial is a form of natural protection that can allow
your loved one to let reality in bit by bit and continue living as
he or she contemplates death. As long as denial isn't causing
your loved one significant harm — such as causing him or her
to seek out painful treatments of no therapeutic value — then
denial isn't necessarily bad.
Your loved one might be afraid of pain. Perhaps your loved
one is afraid of losing control of his or her bodily functions,
mind or autonomy. Your loved one might also fear failing
family or becoming a burden to others.
To provide emotional and spiritual support to your loved one,
invite him or her to talk about his or her fears. Sometimes,
however, it's easier for a dying person to share what he or
she fears and explore it with someone other than a family
member, such as a spilitual counselor.
