`Turning toward death together': The functions of messages during final conversations in close relationships

Abstract

The author explores final conversations from survivors' perspectives using a communication framework. Utilizing retrospective interviews, 55 people discussed their final conversations with a loved one who has since died. As a way to understand the survivors' end-of-life experiences, the author identified five types of messages that appear to be important for survivors and that satisfied numerous relational functions. The primary messages were love, identity, religion/spirituality, routine/everyday content, and difficult relationship issues. The functions that appear to be central to each of these messages (e.g., the confirmation of love, altering and bolstering of identity, validation of religious/spiritual beliefs, maintenance of the relationship, and stepping towards reconciliation) shed light on the value that each of the messages had for survivors.

Effect of Employee Communication on Organisation Performance in Kenya’s Horticultural Sector

“…Also, an effective leader needs to have great skills of communication to convince others to follow him. Additionally, an effective leader needs to have humility when he treats people even though, the leader has great ideas, often most of the ideas come from someone else (Keeley, 2007). As a result, the leader has to surround himself by those people who have those ideas.…”

Family Communication at the End of Life

“…With the goal of understanding the role, impact, and importance of communication at the end of life, researchers have been conducting research in earnest for the past 20 years focusing on both the communication between the terminally ill and health/palliative care professionals [7,16], and the communication between the terminally ill and their family members [1,16]. Communication scholars have been building a foundation of information and creating a body of knowledge pertaining to the importance of effective family communication at the end of life [17].…”

Family Communication at the End of Life

“…Thus, the overall theme for the articles in this special issue is the creation of more awareness and knowledge regarding the depth, breadth, and importance of current research exploring family communication at the end of life. This introductory essay attempts to accomplish the following: (1) discuss the importance of talk regarding death; (2) highlight the formative role of family interactions in the death and dying process; and (3) outline the articles in this special issue.Communication at the end of life, before there is an impending death, can help remove the stigma that surrounds the topic of death and dying [1]. Talking about dying with the person that is terminally…”

“…Communication at the end of life, before there is an impending death, can help remove the stigma that surrounds the topic of death and dying [1]. Talking about dying with the person that is terminally…”

“…With the goal of understanding the role, impact, and importance of communication at the end of life, researchers have been conducting research in earnest for the past 20 years focusing on both the communication between the terminally ill and health/palliative care professionals [7,16], and the communication between the terminally ill and their family members [1,16]. Communication scholars have been building a foundation of information and creating a body of knowledge pertaining to the importance of effective family communication at the end of life [17].…”