How to Say Comforting Words for Serious Illness to Family?

One of the worst things about knowing about terminal illness is to tell it to the family. You might be addressing the family having a terminally sick person, or you are the one suffering from it. Whatever be the scenario, this sensitive matter makes it challenging to approach.

You know they’ll be more than heartbroken, but there’s nothing to do. While doing so, it is crucial to pick the right comforting words for serious illness since not all critical illnesses lead to demise. It is significant to convey and understand that even though it is devastating to have this news, there still lies hope.

During these trying times, standing beside the family of the terminally sick person is the most you can do to make them feel warm. It is possible that both the terminally sick person and the family members go through an emotional roller coaster.

Here staying by them and grounding yourself emotionally plays a crucial role as a way of extending a helping hand.

•   When the Person Is Hospitalised

Being stressed and also emotionally upright while comforting a seriously ill person’s family members can be challenging.

During this period, it is significant to understand that the family members might act randomly out of emotions, so you need to be prepared. Using comforting words and being caring will make them feel better if not totally normal. You can say the following to make them feel better:

• “I am about to visit the hospital. Let me know if I can bring anything?”
• “If you want to talk to me regarding anything, feel free to do so”
• “I am available if you need me for anything. Don’t hesitate to call me”
• “I’m praying for you. If you want to talk about it, don’t hesitate”

•    When the Person Is in Hospice or Home

In this scenario, you not only need to stand beside the family members but also the terminally ill person. However, despite the hard truth, it will be more reasonable to uplift them as much as possible. You can do the following tips to do so:

• “Let us all make dinner together and make these moments memorable”.
• “Let me know when you are visiting the hospital. I’ll go with you”.
• “Just wanted to say that I love you. If you need anything, just tell me”.
• “If you want to talk about anything, do contact me whenever you feel like. I’m always here”.
• “I’m visiting the hospice. Do you need anything?”

Read More: Tips for Visiting Someone in Hospice

Situations might arise where you are the terminally ill person and you have to convey it to the family. It is significant to take into consideration the right time and the proper words while informing your family about a critical illness. Staying amidst all this, it somewhat becomes your responsibility to evoke hope by using comforting words for the family of the terminally ill.

• Tell a Close Person if Needed

If you feel like not having the courage to bring the news, you can always ask for help. However, it might make you feel better to tell this to someone close before. You might also consider telling a certain group while another person conveys the message to the rest of the people. What matters is that you have to stay there when people face the news.

• Bring the Family Together

Bringing the whole family together while conveying the news is helpful since it’ll make them have each other’s comfort. It might be devastating or so shocking for someone that they might not react at all. Moreover, they will be comforted that you are there at least at that moment. Hence doing this in person is most effective since receiving comfort is the main thing.

• Prepare Yourself for Any Kind of Reaction

Suffering from a terminal illness can not only be disheartening but might also be shocking for that person. Hence it is significant to make sure that you are standing on well-settled ground before approaching friends and family.

However, once said it is unknown how different people will react. Hence it is better to stay prepared from the beginning for any kind of reaction that might follow.

It is relevant to address children differently on this matter since they might take some time to understand the situation. However, it varies in their age and intellectual ability depending on which they can grasp it. 

Following are some points to understand while moving forth with this idea:

• Progress as Per Their Age

Children grow their understanding ability depending on age. It is different for children who are pre-schoolers, elementary schoolers and teenagers. Children below 5 years have the least ability to grasp the idea and need proper explaining. 

This is different for children above 5 years but below 12 years. They carry this intellectual ability. Teenagers know clearly about this but facing it, in reality, can be different. Hence keeping these in mind before addressing them with it is relevant. 

• Explain It Simply and Patiently

The key is to approach them patiently by explaining everything in the simplest language possible. It depends on how they understand it better. 

You can also include them in any treatment procedure to let them slowly normalise the idea of moving away. However, whatever approach you take, ensure that it doesn’t affect them psychologically or come around as a shock.

• Prepare for Any Kind of Reactions

How your child might react is unknown; hence it is plausible to prepare yourself for any kind of reaction. They may not fathom anything after listening to this, or it might take time to settle it in.

They might randomly throw tantrums regarding various things or cry while missing you. In these cases, staying by their side as much as possible will prove to be effective and preparing them for the future is also necessary. However, whatever the scenario might be, taking your health concerns into account is also necessary.

It might not always be easy to decide on comforting words for a serious illness. You can take assistance from someone close to you while doing this. However, you can also opt for other ways that will help you feel more comfortable while sharing this news. This is so because your psychological well-being also plays a relevant factor.