The friend can show appreciation of the work being done by the
family and offer to stay with the patient if the family needs a little
time away from home.
The role of the friend is a very important one. Friends want to help
the patient and the family. The friend may not know the details of the
illness, but has probably guessed the outcome. He or she can give the
family and patient both moral and practical support. Visits from the
friend ought to be brief, but they offer the patient an opportunity to
talk about cheerful subjects, such as family, work, or old times. It is
wise to avoid talking at length about the illness at the early stage,
unless the patient shows signs of wanting to.
If the patient shows signs of wanting to talk about his or her
illness and future, the friend can listen quietly. The patient can
discuss practical problems with the friend that may be difficult to say
to the family, for example, who will care for and guide the family in
the future. Do not ignore the questions by convincing the patient that
he or she is going to pull through in the end, when the patient
obviously needs practical reassurance.
During the later stages of the patient's illness, the friend can
help the family with chores, such as shopping. Sometimes, the patient's
courage and strength prevent him or her from showing real emotions to
the family, but such emotions may be revealed to a friend. The patient
may feel that the physician does not have the time to listen, and the
friend can by a sympathetic listener to whom the patient can pour out
his or her worries and fears. Often, a sudden release of emotion can be
of enormous value to the patient.
I am the owner and author of Hoodia Gordonii Side Effects. You can find the original article here: Role of Friends. If you'd like to read more of my articles, please visit my site!
