During family interviews, what should be offered to facilitate communication?

Offering breaks during family interviews is an essential practice to facilitate effective communication. Emotional discussions about a loved one's passing can be very taxing for family members and may lead to heightened stress or fatigue. By providing breaks, investigators allow families the opportunity to regroup, process their feelings, and return to the conversation with a clearer mindset. This can lead to more open and honest communication, as family members are less likely to feel overwhelmed.

In contrast, while compliments can create a positive atmosphere, they do not directly assist in the communication process. Stipends may imply a transactional relationship, which can disrupt the trust needed for open discussions. Refreshments, although they can provide physical comfort, do not address the emotional needs that breaks would satisfy.