As your elderly family member gets closer to the end of her life, she may find it much more difficult to keep her body temperature within the ranges that are comfortable for her. There are a lot of ways that you and her palliative care providers can help her to stay as comfortable as possible, even when it seems as if she switches from warm to cold way too often.
Choose Hot Water Bottles Over Heating Pads
Heating pads are really convenient, but if your elderly family member is relying on them for pain relief or even to help her to stay warm, they may not be a great idea. It’s way too easy for your senior to burn herself or injure herself in some other way. Another option to consider is a hot water bottle, which is just as cozy and easy to use, but far less likely to cause any type of injury.
Have a Variety of Light Blankets Available and Keep a Fan at the Ready
It might also seem like a great idea to have a big, comfy blanket ready for your senior. But that might be too much at some moments. It’s a much better idea to go ahead and use several lighter blankets. That makes it easier for you and your senior to keep up with her comfort by adding or removing blankets as needed. Lighter blankets may also be easier for your elderly family member to maneuver on her own as she feels warmer and cooler.
Another way to help your senior to stay on top of temperature needs can be with a simple fan. That might be a ceiling fan or a smaller oscillating fan. The point is that it’s able to move air around the room and help her to get closer to her ideal temperature. A fan that is easy for her to control as needed may be the ideal solution.
Look for Signs of Discomfort
If your aging family member has trouble communicating, it might be more difficult to determine when she’s uncomfortable. You may need to look for nonverbal signs, such as shivering, pulling the covers up, or pushing them away. Ask your elderly family member if she’s comfortable and use yes and no questions if she can’t communicate exactly what she’s feeling.
Rely on the Help of Palliative Care Providers
Palliative care providers have a lot of experience assisting people who are dealing with ongoing health issues. They also know how challenging that can be for family members and family caregivers as well. It’s always helpful to have someone with experience dealing with these sorts of difficult situations to help you to make your senior’s life as comfortable as it can be.
Extreme difficulty regulating body temperature is something that your senior’s doctor needs to know about. There may be more that can help her, especially if this is a side effect of a medication or treatment. Palliative care services can work closely with your elderly family member’s medical team to ensure that everyone is on the same page.
If you or your aging loved one could benefit from Palliative Care Services in St. Matthews SC, contact the caring staff at Grove Park Hospice, at (803)536-6644.
Providing Hospice & Palliative Care in Orangeburg, Bamberg, & Calhoun Counties
- What Is Terminal Lucidity and How Does End of Life Care Help? - October 20, 2023
- Strategies for Family Caregivers to Manage Anticipatory Grief - October 9, 2023
- Tips for Speaking at a Family Member’s Funeral - September 25, 2023
