Getting Through End-Of-Life Care With A Loved One
The end of any loved one’s life is naturally going to be a very difficult thing to deal with. Nothing you can do can change that. However, there are things that you can do to make sure that any unnecessary difficulties are taken care of. You might not be able to prevent it from being hard, but you can make it a lot easier.
Don’t isolate them
Illness is already a somewhat isolating experience and, when facing the end of their life, it’s no surprise that your loved one might feel that it makes them feel even more alone. However, you and their other family members and friends can make sure that this isn’t the predominant feeling that they’re dealing with. Taking the time to be there, to talk with them, show them you’re thinking about them can make it feel like they’re not facing the end alone. However, if they do want to be alone for a time, it’s important to respect their wishes.
Help them deal with their needs
Your loved one might have many concerns that range from the clearly important to seemingly trivial. For instance, something like sending a birthday card to a loved one or picking up a loved one from school or the airport can still linger on their mind and it can help them relax to let them know you have it covered. Then you might want to have conversations about things like their will and the handling of their assets, whether you’re able to assist them directly with that or you can find an estate attorney to help, instead.
Give them the care that they need
Many chronic illnesses also come with their fair share of discomfort and pain. Taking the initiative to manage it and to fulfill their daily needs as best as possible can prevent a lot of suffering. Talk to them about their options, knowing which are realistic, whether they can stay in their own home or they might need to think about staying with a hospice that can improve their quality of life. Sometimes, family members will take the initiative to provide that care themselves, but working with a professional can offer some peace of mind that you’re making the right decisions when it comes to the specifics of care.
Dealing with anticipatory grief
Something that is likely to happen to both your loved one and you is the experience of anticipatory grief. As the name might suggest, this is when you begin to go through the grieving process in anticipation of a loss and it can catch you off guard. Many hospices and carers will have links to spiritual and mental health counselors for those in their care, but you might want to look at talking to a professional therapist to take care of yourself, as well.
As said at the start, there is no way to make the process of passing on easy. However, there are several ways it can be much harder and the tips above can help you prevent that.
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