Old Age, Illness and Death: Topics for Discussion

Communicating about disease, its complications, its progression and subsequent decisions, are crucial moments in people's lives.

«In our culture, old age, illness and death produce rejection. Death and its proximity are taboo topics of conversation. Communicating about disease, its complications, its progression and subsequent decisions are crucial moments in people's lives. Each person who cares for another who is in a state of illness, in a terminal phase, needs to understand that the priority for this is the issues related to HOPE In these moments of the end of life, people become very sensitive to feelings of guilt and depression, for this reason the caregiver must concentrate on giving HOPE, of whatever kind, to help the patient to leave this world in a state of mind that is as serene as possible. People who believe in the Gospel of Christ know with certainty that Hope is not a mere feeling; Hope is a person with his own name and his name is JESUS. He, as a living Hope, will make all those who trust Him stand firm in the certainty that they are not alone, and that life has a purpose even beyond death.

For those caregivers of patients with end-stage illnesses, the following recommendations are appropriate:

1. Always insist on what the other person has accomplished and done well.
2. Help him/her feel constructive and satisfied with his/her life.
3. Praise his/her strengths and omit his/her weaknesses

The following Questions might also Help:

1. What am I in the world for?
2. What is the meaning of my existence?
3. What can I expect after I die?
4. What meaning does the world have?
5. Why suffer, or why fight?
6. What is it that is worth living?
7. How should I give my life meaning?
8. What is worth doing?

In the Hospital Ministry we have learned that the essence of CARING for another in a state of illness is love, a love that is reflected through service, but also through ACTIVE LISTENING, which is very important. WE CAN DO IT!