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The Gift of Being There
8 Secrets for Visiting a Seriously Ill Loved One
6. Chatter Is Overrated. It's OK to be Present Without Saying a Word
You don't have to fill every moment of your visit with conversation. Just make sure you're present, Apollon says, and not thinking about your next appointment or mentally making your grocery list. "You are present when you touch someone on the hand or the shoulder or the face," she says. "You are present when you just sit quietly beside her. Focus on filling up with love. If you have an intention to come from a place of love, the person will feel your love. I believe this is true even if your loved one is in a coma or in the last stages of Alzheimer's disease. We give and receive love on a soul level." 7. Breathe. Just Breathe.
"When I am sitting quietly with a patient, I use my breath to help calm him," Apollon says. "I take long, deep breaths that slow my body down and allow me to shift my energy. I allow my breath to be audible enough that the patient can hear it. The result is that my breath connects with his. We get in sync. By establishing this connection, I am better able to send love and healing energy to the patient. This is not some sort of special ability, by the way. It happens naturally. Anyone can do it." 8. Listen to Your Intuition.
It will tell you how to help your loved one feel better. Quieting yourself not only helps you get calm and centered, it also helps you tap into your intuition, that deep sense of knowing with which you were born. 
"Intuition means listening to your higher self," Apollon says. "It means tapping into your soul's wisdom. In practical terms, it means knowing what other people need at the moment. This is why you should maintain a peaceful state throughout your visit; it will help you intuitively know what to say and do to make your loved one smile or laugh or feel hopeful." Even though seeing a loved one sick and possibly near death is gut wrenching, Apollon says it's a catalyst for tremendous spiritual growth – if you allow it to be.