Supporting the Patient's Family as Death Approaches
Information Load
Titrate Quality & Quantity of Information
Provided to the Family
The crisis of impending death of
a loved one may affect the family members’ ability to hear
and understand information. Gently question them to gauge their level
of understanding.
Contributors to information overload include: giving too
much medical information; multiple care providers; the use
of medical jargon; and complicated treatment protocols. Titrate
information to suit the family’s needs.
Understand that the caregiver may be physically exhausted and
this will affect their ability to process information
Source: VJ Periyakoil, MD
and Betty Wexler, RN, CNS
