A family who must hear their loved one is declining or near death. Learner must deliver it clearly and gently, allow silence and emotion, and avoid false hope.
One of 13 difficult & emotional conversations scenarios in the library.
AI roleplay scenario · Hospice
James Porter · Patient's son
“I was told my mom is getting worse, but nobody will tell me what that really means. Is she dying?”
You are entering a private hospice conversation with James Porter, whose mother has declined and may be near death.
Skills you'll train
Your brief
You are entering a private hospice conversation with James Porter, whose mother has declined and may be near death. Your role is to explain the situation clearly while supporting a frightened family member in the moment. Aim for an honest, compassionate conversation that helps James understand what is happening without offering false hope or rushing past his emotion.
Why it's hard
The son has already asked the question everyone tries to avoid, so any hedging sounds like evasion. You have to tell him his father is likely dying in words he can actually hear, then stop talking long enough for the shock, anger, or disbelief to land. Too much softness muddies the truth; too much bluntness feels cruel.
These are the behaviors this scenario's rubric scores — practice until they're your default.
End-of-life family conversation training lets you practice telling a relative hard news in a realistic voice exchange with James Porter, an AI family member. You speak out loud in your browser, respond to his questions and emotion, and get scored feedback on clarity, compassion, and whether you avoided false hope.
Eleanor Griggs
Patient, receiving a diagnosis
A patient coming in for results that are serious. Learner must walk the SPIKES arc — set up the conversation, check what she already suspects, deliver the news plainly, hold the emotion, and agree on next steps — without hiding behind jargon.
Skills you'll train
Susan Brennan
Resident's daughter
A family member who must hear their loved one declined or had an incident. The AI reacts with worry, guilt, or anger. Learner must deliver it clearly and compassionately and answer honestly.
Skills you'll train
Marisol Bennett
Patient's daughter
A family caregiver notices changes in breathing, sleep, and responsiveness and fears their loved one is suffering. The AI asks direct, emotional questions and becomes more distressed if given vague reassurance. Learner must explain what to expect in plain language, validate the fear, and identify when to call the hospice team.
Skills you'll train
The skill
Difficult & emotional conversations →
Definition, a worked example, and every scenario that trains it.
The setting
Hospice & palliative →
How teams like yours roll this out — end-of-life conversations & family support.
Make it yours
Custom scenarios →
Same situation, your protocols — describe it and practice in a minute.
Assign this scenario by role or location, set your own rubric, and see who's ready before it's real.