I saw fear in the eyes of an aged loved one and it was painful to watch because it was unexpected…it caught me off guard.

It’s difficult to see that fear—whether it’s the fear of the dying process, or fears related to being dead:

Fear of pain…

Fear of physical distress and suffering…

Fear of becoming a burden…

Fear of family desertion…

Fear of abandonment by physicians…

Fear of losing one’s mental function…

Fear of losing one’s status…

Fear of losing one’s dignity (loss of privacy)…

Fear of being considered worthless…

Fear of being addicted to narcotics…

Fear that one’s accomplishments are almost over…

And fear of death itself.

Which one is your beloved experiencing? Take the time to be an active listener and ask gentle questions…and you’ll find out!

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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