Final Conversations: Helping the Living and the Dying Talk to Each Other

No matter what your age, reflecting on your last interactions with a dying loved one can have life-long consequences for you. This book weaves direct quotations from real people's memories of final conversations, with advice and themes that will help you determine what may work for you.

The authors are not only communication experts but also have had final conversations with loved ones, making them well-qualified to research and write this groundbreaking book. The research took the form of in-depth interviews with over eighty volunteers who wanted to share their experiences to help others. MAUREEN P. KEELEY, PH.D. is an associate professor at Texas State University. Her doctorate is in Communication Research. She has taught interpersonal communication for twenty years. Her research and writing explore the power and role of communication in close relationships in the midst of health crises. She lives near Austin, TX. JULIE M. YINGLING, PH.D. is a professor emerita at Humboldt State University. Her doctorate is in Speech Communication. During her twenty-five year academic career, she taught extensively and specialized in communication development in children and across the lifespan. She lives near San Jose, CA.