HealthcareFive Tasks to Accomplish in Palliative Care

When someone you love has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, it can feel as though the entire world has come to an abrupt stop. So many questions are left open and you want to do the very best to ensure they receive the best support and health care possible.

It doesn’t necessarily mean that they immediately have to leave their home and check into a hospital or a nursing home facility — learning about Palliative care options has become easier than ever with the availability of in-home health care for Seniors. Your loved one can age in the comfort of their own home, where things are familiar and feel safe.

Speaking openly about your loved one’s condition is integral to maintaining a healthy understanding of the difficult situation and emotional well-being of both you and your friend or family member.

Consider discussing the following tasks that he/ she might want to address in order to cope with the transition into Palliative care.

Empower through Knowledge

We are afraid of what we understand the least, so conduct as much research about the illness as possible and how it will affect your loved one. Be curious about how the illness affects mental and emotional health, and ask doctors many questions.

Be Gentle

It’s important for your loved one to remember that they should be kind to themselves. Tell them to forgive themselves in advance for the moments they might not handle something as well as they’d like.

Reassure them that it’s OK to lash out sometimes and that they’re only human. This is an incredibly confusing time, and it’s easy to forget how fragile we can be.

Plan Ahead

As soon as a diagnosis is given is when a long-term health plan should be put in place. Planning ahead and setting priorities straight away will alleviate a lot of stress and complicated matters down the road.

Finding the right in-home Palliative care service and navigating doctor offices and pharmacy locations in advance is one less thing you’ll have to worry about when stages of illness begin to worsen.

Talk about it Openly

Always be willing to listen to your loved one’s concerns, and let them know they are free to discuss anything that is upsetting them at any time. Bottling feelings is never productive, and it can result in greater anxiety, depression, and stress. Let them know they can speak honestly about how they’re feeling. It might feel awkward to discuss the idea of losing someone so close, but it will make a world of difference when you speak about it together and know that you’re not in this challenging time alone.

Establish a Support Network

Find the right in-home health care service provider and Personal Support Worker (PSW) team. When you know that your family member or friend is in trusting, compassionate, and professional hands, you can find some time to breathe. A team of PSWs can help administer chores around the house, engage your loved one in activities, and most importantly, they provide sincere companionship.

These conversations are never easy, but it’s so important to discuss these matters when a terminal illness has been diagnosed. The process is difficult, but talking about it compassionately and honestly can often lead to acceptance.

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