We’ve written often about having conversations with your elder loved one, and it’s true too when determining what your loved one wants for end-of-life care. In fact, no time may be more important. Your main desires at this time will be to relieve suffering and improve quality of life, while also respecting his wishes for dying, which can be difficult if you have different desires. If your loved one is still living at home, the first thing to be determined is will he remain at home, and if he remains at home, will he receives hospice or palliative care. If so, when will that begin? Or, if staying at home is not an option, when will he move into an elder care community and which one? These are all questions that you and your elder loved one must discuss in an open, caring conversation.
No matter where your loved one chooses to spend his final days, he will need assistance. If he comes to The Homeplace of Henderson, we will work alongside his medical team to provide comfort and support. But a similar team of help should be assembled if your loved one decides to stay at home. We stress that having at least one or two people to help and advise you in your loved one’s final months or weeks is extremely important. It will be a stressful time, and you and your family will benefit from having trained and caring professionals.
Whether he receives hospice or palliative care at home or in an elder community, you’ll need to determine what role the family should play as his death nears. And what’s the best way for your loved one to spend quality time with his family and friends in this time? Heart-wrenching decisions include when and if to quit disease treatment. Your loved one, if he’s spiritual or religious, may want clergy to visit, and determining when and how often is another decision.
In addition to these just-mentioned decisions, there are also physical concerns to take care of. If your loved one decides to stay at home, you or his home health care attendant will need to know how to assist him with pain, breathing problems, skin irritation, digestive problems, temperature sensitivity, fatigue, and more.
One of the many benefits of your loved one moving to Homeplace is that most of the physical concerns will be cared for by our trained staff and your end-of-life team. This can reduce stress on family members, leaving them better focused to make other decisions that family must legally make. Of course, we will always work with you to ensure your loved one receives superior care.
To contact the Homeplace of Henderson, email Jessica Beaven at jessica.beaven@homeplaceofhenderson.com or call at (270) 577-0534.