Grief for a terminally ill loved one.
One phone call and your world changes. Your relative or friend is terminally ill and was told that they should contact hospice care. Although age does not matter, in my personal situation, someone who is only 48 should not be in her final stage of life. When this situation occurs there is nothing you can do to change their medical condition but you can help them in many other ways.
Instructions
1. A patient, who is diagnosed as terminally ill, will need ways to address their physical and emotional distress. Obviously there is nothing you can do to change their physical condition. The hospice services will be there for that. You can, though, help them enjoy what they still can do, be there for them, let them lean on you for support, all while you grieve for them.
2. When a friend or relative has been diagnosed as terminally ill and requires end of life care they harbor many concerns. These include some about themselves such as pain, fears about the unknown future, and loss of being an independent and productive individual. They are also worried about their family and feeling like they are too much of a burden. This is where you can help.
3. Be a sounding board. Your friend or relative will be filled with many emotions, questions, and feelings that they may need to talk about. Although the hospice home care may include access to counselors, a familiar face may be needed to vent, get mad, and release. You being a sounding board may be just what the doctor ordered.
4. Be clear headed and able to help by providing resources to assist them with whatever they are going through. The terminally ill individual will be thinking through emotions and you can assist them by finding out what health care or other options are available to help them with their situation.
5. Cry with the terminally ill person. When you feel like you can not do a thing you can cry with your family or friend. The Hospice Nurse will always remain strong and level headed but when the patient becomes overwhelmed and needs to release tension by crying, cry with them.
6. Assist your friend or family member to get out and enjoy what they have in their past. They may need help with driving, getting dressed, or mobility but there are so many assistive devices available for overcome these obstacles. Ask the home care nurse about what can be done to help the patient with this.
7. Make your friend or family member know that they can call you any time of the day or night. Let them know that this is not a bother and you insist that they do it. Your goal is to help relieve their suffering and improve their quality of life.
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