As your elderly family member edges closer to the end of her life, it may feel more difficult for you to know what to do. Or you may feel as if what you are doing just isn’t enough to help her as much as you want. The reality is that you don’t have to be doing extravagant things in order to make a big difference for your senior in her end of life care.

Make Sure You Know and Share Your Senior’s Wishes

It’s difficult to talk with your senior about her wishes regarding the end of her life, but it’s so very important. If you don’t know her wishes, you’re not as able to advocate for her as you could be. When you do know for certain what she wants, though, be sure to speak up for her and be the advocate that she needs you to be.

Help Her to Eat and Drink

Helping your elderly family member to eat and to drink is just one of many very basic care tasks that you can still assist with as she nears the end of her life. Her appetite may not be what it used to be but offering her foods that you know she loves can make a difference. Be sure not to try to feed your senior large meals all at once and keep water handy for her to sip.

Look for Other Ways to Provide Comfort

There are other ways that you may be able to provide comfort, too. Keeping blankets and throws as well as soft pillows handy helps your senior to change positions and to rest comfortably. You might be surprised to know that just being there with her can provide a lot of comfort, whether you’re talking to her, reading to her, or simply being there for her.

Take Care of Yourself, Too

Make sure that you’re practicing self-care as well as you possibly can during this time. Your senior needs for you to be eating, sleeping, and getting whatever else you need handled so that you can be there for her. Take time away when you need it, and don’t keep spreading yourself too thin.

Added Help from End of Life Care Providers

End-of-life care providers can help you to spot other ways that you can be involved in her care and comfort, even at the end of her life. This can help you to relax and to know that you are doing all that you can.

If you or your aging loved one could benefit from End of Life Care in Elloree SC, contact the caring staff at Grove Park Hospice, (803) 536-6644.