Description
A guide to easing the suffering of the seriously ill through only an empathetic and informed presence. Jeff Kane, a physician, explains for all types of caregivers – family, friends, physicians, nurses, hospital and doctor office staff members – how to develop a dramatically effective “bedside manner”. Everyone who has asked the question, “How can I help?” should find new ways of treating the ill. Readers are shown how to look beyond the disease itself, aiding the sick person to come to a sense of peace and those with chronic or terminal illness to live optimally with the illness. With a foreword by Larry Dossey MD, this guide explains the role of spiritual meaning in health and illness, allowing readers to develop a therapeutic relationship with the sick that alleviates suffering and aids healing. Chapters also cover: special exercises for coping with the complex and conflicting emotions that can accompany serious illness; listening for meaning in the words of the afflicted; using one’s eyes, ears and heart when observing the ill; welcoming the opportunity for personal growth that sickness can bring; and healing oneself.
