Final answer:
The family of a patient with a long terminal illness may go through stages of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages may occur in different orders and not all family members may experience all of them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The family of a patient with a long terminal illness may go through various experiences. According to Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, who proposed the five stages of grief, the family may experience denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. These stages may occur in different orders and not all family members may experience all of them. Additionally, some psychologists believe that the more a person fights death, the more likely they are to remain stuck in the denial phase.