Article: Making contact with your loved one is an important part of making amends. Don’t wait around for your loved one to reach out or for it to happen naturally. When your loved one is ill and dying, make it your first priority to get back into his or her life.  Try making a phone call, sending a letter, or stopping by to see your loved one. There is no right way to make contact, so choose most comfortable option for you. Keep in mind that it might be difficult to reach out, especially if it has been a while since you last talked. When your loved one is dying, there may be times when he or she is not feeling well or is out of it because of medications. These might not be the best times to try to make amends. Instead, pick a time when your loved one is awake and alert enough to listen and understand you. Try asking your loved one’s caregiver about the best time to stop by or call. When you make amends with your loved one, you may want to ensure that you will have some privacy to talk. It might be hard to express your feelings with other friends or family members around. Your loved one may also be less likely to want to talk to you or listen to what you have to say if other people are around. Try requesting privacy with your loved one by saying something like, “I was hoping just the two of us could talk for a while. Would that be okay?” If your loved one agrees, then the other people in the room might just leave. If not, then try saying, “Could you please excuse us for a few minutes?” When you are trying to make amends with your dying loved one, try to do it as soon as possible. If you know that your loved one is going to die but hasn't died yet, you have the time to make amends. This will help you avoid the guilt and regret of your loved one passing before you made amends. Even if your loved one's doctor has given your loved one a certain number of months to live, you should not wait. The sooner you make amends, the more time you will have with your loved one to repair your relationship before they die.

What is a summary?
Make the connection. Pick the right time to reconnect. Request a private conversation. Don't put it off.