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.
Hospitalization - Admission Procedures
The procedures you follow on admission to a hospital vary from one hospital to another, but basically the process is the same in most institutions in the United States.
Care of the Dying - Death of a Baby
The intrauterine death of an embryo ends in a miscarriage (spontaneous abortion). Ten percent of pregnancies end in this way, commonly between the sixth and tenth weeks, and usually because of an abnormality in the embryo. With care, subsequent pregnancies are usually successful.
Care of the Dying - Reaction of Children
A child's reaction to death depends on many factors. A child's first experience with death is often the death of a pet. A child under the age of eight cannot understand that death is irreversible and may expect the mother or father to bring the pet back to life. After the age of eight or nine, the child's understanding is usually as rational as an adult's understanding.
