As your elderly family member edges closer to the end of her life, there are certain signs that you and other family members might notice that the end is closer than you might think. Many of these involve mental and emotional signs. End of life care providers can walk you through some of these situations
Wanting to Tie up Loose Ends
There are a lot of different ways that your senior might want to address anything that’s left as she nears the end of her life. In terms of mentally and emotionally, she might want to do that by making explanations for things that happened in the past or even apologizing for misunderstandings. She may want to say goodbye to specific people in her life or from her past, even in ways that might not be immediate, like writing a letter.
Withdrawing from Family and Friends
It’s also possible that your aging family member starts to withdraw from the people who care about her. This isn’t to hurt anyone or because she doesn’t want to be around anyone. It’s more about the fact that she’s starting to near the end of her life and is readying for that transition.
Giving Away Personal Items
Some seniors get closer to the end of their life and begin to give away items that they want to go to certain people. That might have been a focus earlier, too. As your senior gets closer to the end of her life, however, she may be more adamant that specific items go to certain people.
Experiencing Hallucinations or Visions
Many seniors experience visions or hallucinations as they near the end of life. Those visions may include visits from family members and loved ones from years ago who passed away. These may be difficult for you and other family members to witness, and it’s also difficult to know whether your senior is really seeing these things.
Wanting to Stop Some Medical Treatments and End of Life Care Services
Hospice care doesn’t require that your elderly family member completely give up all medical treatments. At some point, however, your senior may decide that there are some treatments that she no longer wants to go through. That’s especially the case if some of those treatments are exhausting for her or are ones that she knows aren’t helping.
Working with end of life care providers can help you and your senior to manage the impact of these and other end of life symptoms that you might be noticing. Keeping your senior comfortable and happy for as long as possible is so much easier with the right assistance.
Excerpt: It’s so tough to watch your senior nearing the end of her life. Some of these signs can help you to know that the end may be closer than you realize.
If you or your aging loved one could benefit from End of Life Care in Bowman SC, contact the caring staff at Grove Park Hospice, (803)536-6644.
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