Danna Syltebo

Family caregivers of a terminally ill person should have their needs attended to, maintains freelance writer Danna Syltebo in the following viewpoint. In addition to facing emotional distress, these caregivers are often overwhelmed by the daily activities of caring for a dying person and would benefit from the help of others. Syltebo, who cared for a spouse who died from Lou Gehrig’s disease, suggests that concerned friends be considerate and specific when offering assistance to a caregiver. One of the most valuable things a friend can do, she points out, is to spend time visiting the dying patient so that the caregiver can get a break from the duties of tending to the patient.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How many years did it take for Syltebo...