Any time that someone you care about hears that they’re suddenly dealing with a terminal illness, that’s a scary moment. For your senior, what matters most is that you’re able to help her to put together a plan that prioritizes her needs for the time that she has left. Here are just a few of the ways that you, other family members, and end of life care providers can do that.
Work through the Emotions as They Arise
A lot of emotions suddenly appear after a scary diagnosis, especially if the prognosis is terminal. Your elderly family member may feel a lot of guilt about lifestyle choices or she might be anxious about what’s coming next. Shoving those feelings aside or ignoring them isn’t going to be helpful at all. What she needs to do instead is to work through those feelings as they crop up so that she can move forward.
Talk about a Prognosis with Her Doctors
Make sure that everyone involved understands what’s happening and what her doctors expect to happen next. When you’ve all got a thorough understanding of what’s going on, it’s a lot easier to plan for the future. If there are curative options, your elderly family member may or may not want to try them. Your elderly family member’s doctors can help her to understand exactly what is possible with her condition.
Start Making Plans with End of Life Care Services for the End Now
So often people wait until things get really dire before they talk about their wishes for the end of life. If you and your elderly family member can start making plans now for the end of life care, she’s going to have more choices and say over what is likely to happen. End of life care isn’t about giving up. It’s about making sure that she’s comfortable and that she has what she needs and wants at the end of her life.
Keep Your Senior Involved for as Long as Possible
Situations can change, especially when you’re talking about terminal conditions. Avoid making decisions for your senior without her knowledge and input if it is at all possible. If she’s able to contribute to the discussion and share with you and other family members what she wants, it’s important that she’s given the opportunity to do so for as long as possible.
Enjoy the Time that She Has Left with End of Life Care Support
Above all, you, your senior, and the other people who love her all need to enjoy the time that she has left. End of life care can be helpful with this goal, too. Make sure that everyone involved in caring for your senior is taking care of themselves so that they’re able to continue to be there for her. Even though this can be a sad time, it can also be a happy time when some really fantastic memories are created.
Losing someone you love is never easy. But when you are as prepared as possible for what might happen and have the help that you need, it’s a lot easier to get through this very difficult time.
If you or your aging loved one could benefit from End of Life Care Services in Bamberg SC, contact the caring staff at Grove Park Hospice, at (803)536-6644.
Providing Hospice & Palliative Care in Orangeburg, Bamberg, & Calhoun Counties
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