Being quiet together As the person becomes weaker, they will have less energy for talking. Sometimes they may not want to talk. That is fine. Just knowing you are always ready to listen to them can be very reassuring. It can be good to keep your friend or relative company as you sit in silence together. Letting go Saying a final goodbye is never easy and some people find letting go difficult. Tears and talking about memories can be part of saying goodbye and help you both let go. Some people want to be there every moment. Others find it difficult to spend time with their loved one when death is near. Some people don’t get to say goodbye, and some people don’t cry. Grief before your loved one dies While we often assume grief happens after someone you care about has died, we now know that some feelings of grief can be experienced before an actual death. This has been called ‘anticipatory grief ’ and it can be hard for a person to make sense of. They may even feel guilty or feel they are betraying the relationship as the person is still alive.
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