Nobody likes to consider the possibility of death. However, as we age, we confront the possibility that many of us may require high-quality end-of-life care. The latter phases of a terminal disease can be both difficult and emotional, especially if a person you need to look after is your parent.

Daughter holding hands elderly woman's

Care For Your Elderly Parent

The focus generally shifts at this stage to make our beloved ones as comfortable as possible so that they may make the most of the time they have left. This last stage phase might last anywhere from a few weeks to several years, depending on the severity of the sickness and your loved one’s conditions. 

Palliative care treatments can help manage pain and other symptoms including constipation, sickness, and shortness of breath during this period. Both the patient and their family may benefit from hospice care in terms of emotional and spiritual support.

Hospice Care

Medical practitioners can give palliative care to a patient who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness through hospice care. When a patient’s doctor judges that curative medication is no longer effective and that a person needs senior care services.

Hospice is called in; it’s usually selected when the patient has six months or less left. The goal of a hospice provider is to make the patient as comfortable as possible rather than to cure the terminal illness. Hospice care is usually provided at the patient’s home or in a hospice center.

If the institution has a hospice license, hospice specialists can sometimes attend to people in assisted living and skilled nursing homes. Hospice care helps families focus on appreciating their remaining time together by reducing the burden of caring for a loved one towards the end of life.

Read And Sing

Ask yes/no questions if the person is unable to talk but can nod or shake his or her head. Offer to read to your significant other. If the person likes a specific book or author, read it to them. A long tale might be difficult to follow or grasp for certain people.

If that’s the case, try reading one-page or shorter stories. Many individuals like a good laugh, so try reading these short comedic snippets. Prayers, devotions, poetry, or the newspaper being read aloud may also be appreciated. It’s also a good idea to sing songs that your parents love.

Your voice doesn’t have to be flawless, but it will be wonderful to your loved one, and you’ll always remember how much fun you had together. A simple talk about the day, about some memories, or anything apart from talking about the disease, is a great way to make your mom or dad forget about their pain and focus their attention on something brighter and more optimistic. 

Touch Of Support

Touch is highly essential to most individuals since it makes us feel valued and cared for. If you want to hold your loved one’s hand, comb their hair, or apply balm to their hands, arms, or feet, let them know.

It might be painful, or he or she may just not want to be touched, so listen to them carefully and do what makes them feel well. Applying lotion to his or her lips, cooking a favorite drink or meal, or putting a warm blanket or sweatshirt to make your loved parent comfortable are all things you may offer to do. In the end, it is the least you can do for people who nurtured you when you were just a child. 

Forgive

It is quite normal if you have had a tumultuous connection with your parents. Consider using the time you’re spending with your parents to think about any concerns or difficulties you’ve experienced with them. Let them know you have always loved them.

In these situations, it may be beneficial to talk about letting go of some of your fears. Consider discussing freely to relieve everyone of any remorse if it makes them feel more at ease and offers you more room to appreciate them. It also relieves your mother or father of the weight of leaving unsolved issues at the end of their lives. 

Fulfill Their Wishes

Your parents’ end-of-life desires may differ from yours, however, it shouldn’t make you disrespect their needs. Let them know that you support their decision to die in a hospital or at home on hospice. Inquire about their comfort desires and if there is anything they want to accomplish before they pass away.

You should also inquire about any specific funeral preferences they may have. Write down their requests and assure them that you will carry out their wishes so that they may die peacefully. 

Express Your Love

Allow your pure love to show through. It’s difficult to sit with your beloved one dying without breaking down in tears, It’s really powerful to be able to hold an unconditionally loving space for your dying parent. Tell them how much you appreciate being their child and how much you love and respect them. It surely is hard, but try to be their support and strength in their difficult times. 

One of the most significant persons in our lives is our parents. It’s difficult and frustrating to see them struggle and eventually leave us; but, we need to uncover the superheroes hiding deep within ourselves so that we can make our parents’ final days more pleasant and serene.

It’s fine to feel sorry and in pain, but for the sake of their rest, you should try to be strong and positive, even if everything appears to be gloomy and depressing.