Communication

by Dr Cornelius Woelk, Dr Mike Harlos, Pat Murphy   Dave's story Dave had a family history of heart disease. He had his first heart attack when he was 51. When he was 55 he had coronary bypass surgery. A year later he was found to have congestive... read more...

By Brenda Hearson and Dr. Cornelius Woelk   Good communication is an important part of good health care. Some people find it hard to talk to their doctor or health care team, especially about serious illness or dying: We may not want to seem... read more...

Explaining the serious illness of a family member or friend to a child or youth can seem overwhelming. Adults who are themselves feeling emotions related to a family member’s illness may want to protect children from feeling the hurt that comes... read more...

Visits from friends can be uplifting, both for the person who is ill and their families. However, as the person becomes weaker, or as caregiving becomes more demanding, families may not have enough energy to meet with visitors. Here are some... read more...

You may be nervous about talking to someone who is not expected to live much longer. The big question is often whether to be up front and talk about the illness or try to ignore it. The best advice is to be yourself. Be open to talking about... read more...