[Serious] comforting the dying

[ColeDavis]

*vent time*

I don't need to tell you the precise circumstances; everybody else realised that this was about general principles about the situation. If all you've got is other people's idea of humour, I don't think you have much to contribute.

Also, you were told, twice, that this was serious, but oh no, this wasn't good enough for you.

[pocaracas]

Yeah... General principles. Go on and write your essay based on general principles. Good luck getting a C.

[arewethereyet]

Administrator Notice
Serious tag - do I need to explain?

[Thumpalumpacus]

Poca, seriously, lane out.

[Nanny]

Quite the derailment.

OP - Angrboda has the best advice here.

[ColeDavis]

Quite the derailment.

OP - Angrboda has the best advice here.

I'm inclined to agree.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

When my boat team arrived in the sunny south out east of Asia I was shanghaied by our corpsman who saw me reading scifi and said "I want you, you can read!" Says something about the rest of our team. Anyway he gave me a stack of manual on first aid and I ate them. Over the next 2.something years I "held hands" about a dozen times. Both our crews and the people we picked up from their romps in the jungle. Never easy. Sometimes I'd hold a hand and write notes to be sent along later with the other hand. Never easy.

[Nay_Sayer]

Try to make something up

I'd say this is how a lot of our current messes started.

Nothing is gained in a lie, No matter how well meaning.

I can only echo others here, Presence and comfort.

[Bucky Ball]

As was said above, just be there. Your presence is far more important than you may know. It's not about what you say.
There my be "hospice resources" (a nurse or palliative care physician), who might talk for a few minutes (to you), but it seems you get this.
Best wishes ... you're a good friend. They might like CDs or music of a certain type to listen to when they don't have company, they may want smoothies/milkshakes, if they're eating at all,
if they're not comfortable, ask about a better med regime. They might want to have you read them a certain book or watch a favorite movie ?
Again, ... you're a very good friend.

[ColeDavis]

You sent me a 'humorous' video and told me to 'make things up'.

That's how some of us comfort others... with humour.
What's the use of spending the rest of your days all gloomy? Might as well try to have some fun.

As an advice, show your friend that movie and hear him/her/them have a laugh. Relate it to the current situation ... I don't know... talk about it. And then, if they like it, watch other Ricky Gervais films.
One other thing that is often on older people's minds is what they regret doing/not doing in their lives... maybe it's not a bad idea to just go there and suggest you two do something that was never done... if possible.

*vent time*
Sheesh. You come here with barely any details and expect random internet people to give you insight into how to deal with a random person who has some medical condition that's terminal?
You didn't even tell us if this person is bedridden or is still fully functional and expect us to advise you... how?!?
By writing out generic platitudes? No, screw you!
Use chatGPT for that. It's well versed in ALL the generic platitudes that humanity has ever written and it will cough out everything you need with far more precision than we would.

Dear Sir or Madam,

Other people managed to offer general advice of some considerable value. If you aren't able to contribute meaningfully, then how about leaving it alone. I wouldn't dream of telling rude people like yourself about the (now deceased) person's circumstances.