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J
jkaysalz Asked May 2018

How to tell mother about her husband's death?

My father passed away about 3 weeks ago. He was the caregiver to my 96 year old mother who suffers from dementia. We have told her several times of his short illness and death and she even attended his services, but now asks where he is at. What is the correct way to answer her?

Ahmijoy May 2018
We often speak of the “Theraputic Fib” on this site. That means, in order not to upset someone who no longer grasps the concept of death and dying, that their loved one is “visiting someone”, “might be by later”, “will come with us next time”, etc. Unfortunately, trying to get someone who suffers from dementia to grasp that they will never see their loved one again is a futile attempt. You will have to keep re-explaining it. Mom doesn’t remember Dad’s Service and if she does, she may think it was one of the many others she’s probably attended in her lifetime.

It’s ok to use the TF. We’ve pretty much all done it with our loved ones at one time or another. Don’t feel guilty. It’s really the kindest way to save them from becoming upset.

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