Maybe this would be better in parenting, but I'm the kid in the situation, so putting it here makes sense to me.

Do you shelter your adult children when a close relative or friend is aging and not doing so well?  My parents (although really my mom's idea) have put off telling me things about grandparents, greatgrandparents, other relatives, friends and even their own health issues for weeks until competitions, exams, whatever are over.

Yesterday I got a panicked call - don't tell X (who is out of the country) about her grandfather.