What Can You Do to Comfort a Terminally-Ill Loved One?

Whether it’s your first time to hear about someone having a terminal illness or not, the news can still be emotionally devastating. Because of this, we may feel at a loss for words in trying to comfort our loved one. Is there really anything we can do?

Aside from encouraging your loved one to get Hospice Care in Burbank, California, here are other ways you can be comforting to them:

• Give them the gift of SILENCE.
  

  The emotional struggles of terminal illness can make our loved one feel in grief. The words you say may not be enough to comfort them. Yet, surprisingly, your mere presence can help them feel not alone. When you are with them, it’s alright to be silent, especially if you don’t know the right words to say.

• Give them the gift of TIME.
  

  Be intentional in being present for your loved one. If they are receiving Palliative Services in California, they will need to see that they are still worth spending time with. Visit them often. Be cheerful when talking to them. Treat them in the same way you interact with them before their illness.

• Give them the gift of PRACTICAL HELP.
  

  If you think that you can help your loved one in some way, do it in a manner that doesn’t make them feel like they burden you about the task. For instance, if you’re scheduled to shop for grocery, ask them if they need something you can buy for them. For someone receiving Hospice and Palliative Care, being with people who can extend practical help is comforting.

What about you? Do you have other experiences of providing comfort to a terminally ill person? Do you have concerns about how to provide better assistance to someone with a terminal condition? Let us know your needs about this matter.

At Bonum Hospice Services, we have a team of care providers who can assist you in caring for a loved one with a terminal illness. Feel free to set an appointment with us to see how we can help.