The last time a loved one has to live can be an extremely challenging time.
What can you do to help them? What words of comfort can you offer them? And most of all - how can you deal with your own grief while you're helping to prepare your loved one for the end? Here are some of the important things you need to look at.
Choosing where to die The first decision to make is where your loved one will spend their final days, and there are a few options that you should discuss with them.
· In-patient care The advantage of having your loved-one spend their last days at a nursing home, hospital or hospice facility is round-the-clock care.
These facilities are set-up to care for the needs of a terminally ill patient and to provide palliative care.
They will have a team that specialises in easing the symptoms, relieving pain, as well as taking care of your loved one's psychological needs.
· Home care But many people would prefer be at home.
In fact, most of our loved ones insist on having their last moments in the comfort the known environment of their homes, close to the loved ones that they hold dear.
In this case you need to evaluate how much support family and friends will be able to provide.
You could also get some help from a social worker or health care providers when making the decision.
Getting help at home In the past, family members have always been a very active and important component of palliative care at home.
And it's good for the patient to be surrounded by their loved ones.
But it doesn't have to be a purely family event.
You can have all the benefits of in-patient care in the comfort of your own home with the help of home care providers.
Benefits to patient With a well-equipped home care service, you can give your loved one not only around-the-clock care, but also their own personal carer to be by their side for anything they need.
There are home carers highly specialized in palliative care who will know how to maximise the comfort of your loved one and help them to maintain their dignity.
They will provide the highest possible quality of life for your loved one during the time they have left.
Benefits to you And a very good home care service doesn't only take care of the needs of the patient - but they extend their care to the rest of the family.
You and your family will already have the benefit of being able to enjoy the last moments with your loved one without having to worry about caring for them - you should simply be there to provide them with love and comfort But a good home care provider can also offer you support during the difficult moments.
What can you do to help them? What words of comfort can you offer them? And most of all - how can you deal with your own grief while you're helping to prepare your loved one for the end? Here are some of the important things you need to look at.
Choosing where to die The first decision to make is where your loved one will spend their final days, and there are a few options that you should discuss with them.
· In-patient care The advantage of having your loved-one spend their last days at a nursing home, hospital or hospice facility is round-the-clock care.
These facilities are set-up to care for the needs of a terminally ill patient and to provide palliative care.
They will have a team that specialises in easing the symptoms, relieving pain, as well as taking care of your loved one's psychological needs.
· Home care But many people would prefer be at home.
In fact, most of our loved ones insist on having their last moments in the comfort the known environment of their homes, close to the loved ones that they hold dear.
In this case you need to evaluate how much support family and friends will be able to provide.
You could also get some help from a social worker or health care providers when making the decision.
Getting help at home In the past, family members have always been a very active and important component of palliative care at home.
And it's good for the patient to be surrounded by their loved ones.
But it doesn't have to be a purely family event.
You can have all the benefits of in-patient care in the comfort of your own home with the help of home care providers.
Benefits to patient With a well-equipped home care service, you can give your loved one not only around-the-clock care, but also their own personal carer to be by their side for anything they need.
There are home carers highly specialized in palliative care who will know how to maximise the comfort of your loved one and help them to maintain their dignity.
They will provide the highest possible quality of life for your loved one during the time they have left.
Benefits to you And a very good home care service doesn't only take care of the needs of the patient - but they extend their care to the rest of the family.
You and your family will already have the benefit of being able to enjoy the last moments with your loved one without having to worry about caring for them - you should simply be there to provide them with love and comfort But a good home care provider can also offer you support during the difficult moments.
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