ABSTRACT
Family members almost always need to feel that they are being helpful in some way. This is most often expressed in a desire to be able to offer practical help to the patient. The patient needs their presence and support and, for many relatives, helping to care for their dying loved one is a way of expressing their commitment and being satisfied that they could have done no more. This may help them to cope during bereavement. A relative's wish to be more involved may simply reflect the fact that they feel that they are not receiving sufficient information about the patient's illness and progress. Offering all the available and appropriate support to the relatives will lead to better supported patients. It is essential to consider the social context in which patients and relatives are conducting their lives as they face death.
