Important Information About End-of-Life Care for the Elderly
Every end-of-life experience is different. Sometimes, these situations come on quickly and other times, they happen over weeks, months, or even years. For some senior citizens, their mind will weaken near the end of their life, but their body will still be strong. It happens the opposite of this, as well. Some people lose functions in both their mind and their body. If your elderly loved one is nearing end of life, you may need to get them home care assistance services.
Defining End-of-Life Care
Home Care Assistance Concord, NC: End of Life Care
If you haven’t heard of or don’t understand what end-of-life care is, that’s okay. This is a type of care that offers support and medical services to a patient who is nearing death. Sometimes, the care is given in the days before someone passes away and other times it is given weeks or months before.
The needs of your elderly loved one during this time may (are likely to) vary from the next person the home care provider sees. They may have different care requirements such as needing pain medications to help manage cancer-related pain, but someone else may need medications to help fight a life-threatening infection.
Generally speaking, people who are at end-of-life, need care in 4 different areas – practical tasks, spiritual needs, emotional and mental needs, and physical comfort. The family members may need emotional support and help with basic, practical tasks, as well.
Reasons to Provide End-of-Life Care for the Elderly
Are you unsure if this is the type of service that your elderly loved one needs? You can start by contacting their doctor or speaking with their home care assistance providers. Basically, if your elderly loved one is nearing the end of their life for any reason, they could benefit from this type of care. Some of the reasons to provide end-of-life care for the elderly include:
- Breathing issues (shortness of breath or difficulty breathing)
- Swallowing issues
- Mobility issues
- Pain (moderate to severe)
- Digestive issues (loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, loss of bowels or bladder issues)
- Skin irritation (dryness and itching are common)
- Fatigue (tiredness, little to no energy, exhaustion, and overwhelmed)
- Temperature sensitivity (legs, feet, arms, and hands may be cool to the touch and skin may be darker, as well)
- Bed sores
These are all reasons to provide end-of-life care for the elderly. If your elderly loved one is nearing the end of their life, hopefully, you can get them the help and care they need.
Conclusion
Does your elderly loved one have a condition that is leading them to the end of their life? If so, you and your elderly loved one may be faced with emotional distress, physical pain, exhaustion and many other issues, too. Luckily, there are many home care assistance services that can get your elderly loved one the care they need in their final days, weeks, months, or even years. Reach out to get these services for your elderly loved one starting today.
If you or an aging loved one are considering in Home Care Assistance in Concord, NC, please call the professional staff at Caring at Heart today at (704) 379-7510. Serving Charlotte, Statesville, Ballantyne, Mooresville, Huntersville, Matthews, Concord, Gastonia, Pineville and Indian Trail
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/providing-comfort-end-life
Knowing in her heart that families deserved better, she started Caring At Heart in 2008 with two key goals in mind: To provide clients and their families with an experience that was personable, easy, and reassuring and to create a working environment that employees were excited and proud to be a part of.
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