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Terminal illness: Supporting a terminally ill loved one
My loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. How might our relationship change?
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My loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. How will our relationship change?
How can I help my loved one cope with a terminal illness?
Is there a typical emotional process that a person who has a terminal illness experiences?
How do you help a loved one who's in denial about his or her impending death?
When is denial harmful?
What else can I do for my loved one?
Is it important to keep a vigil by my loved one when he or she is near death?
Is it appropriate to tell your loved one that it's all right to let go?
What advice do you have for people who are grieving?
What do you tell people who are struggling with guilt?
When is denial harmful?
If denial is interfering with a dying person's necessary tasks, you might need to take action. If, for example, a single parent's denial of their illness is getting in the way of planning future care for a child, it might be necessary to intervene. Seek the help of a professional with expertise in the care of the dying, such as a hospice specialist, palliative care nurse, doctor or social worker.
Clergy may also be able to help if religion is important to the person.
