Planning for the End

LAKEWOOD, CO - SEPTEMBER 01: Hospice voluntee... 

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There isn’t a sadder thing you can experience than finding out that your spouse is dying from a terminal illness. There are no amount of words to describe the utter sadness and heartbreak that you must feel everyday knowing that it won’t be long until they are gone. There is so much to think about and plan for that it feels hopeless to do any of it. But you must do whatever you have to do. Here is a look at the approach best to take when dealing with a terminal family member.

The first thing to do is make sure that the arrangments are made for their passing. It’s tough to want to think about something like this but you must do it. It will allow you to have it paid for and ready so that when they pass you can begin to just deal with the grief. Of course you can consult your loved one about the arrangements but they might not be interested in thinking about that. You have to determine that based on who your spouse is.

You shouldn’t be afraid to take a moment or two during the week to do something for yourself. You have been going through an indescribable amount and you need some time for yourself to help you get through it. You need to be sure that you are coping well. It’s a tough time for you. Allow yourself to feel overwhelmed.

This is a tough time and it won’t get any easier for you. Just take it slowly and know that it will certainly get better.

 

Filed Under: Health & Medical Tagged With: , ,

The Mission Of Hospice

While living with dignity is important dying with respect and dignity is also equally important. If you look at millions of elderly people around the world, they are suffering in silence and are mostly left to the care of old-age homes where they are just but assured a living. Two square meals, a place to live and some good clothing to wear is not all that elderly people expect from society. They need companionship, respect dignity and a feeling that they are important to society and are cared for. They have served the best years of their lives for the benefit of their families and society in general. In return, the least we can expect to give them back as children is love and affection, which the have showered on us abundantly. Society should also learn to treat this elderly people with compassion and care.

In this mission of affording the elderly people the right to die with dignity, hospice plays a very vital role. Elderly people often suffer from poor health and what they need is a comprehensive health plan which takes care of their day to day health apart from being beside them materially and emotionally when they are up against some major illness. Hospice is a very vital alternative health plan that is built around the cornerstones of respect, dignity and understanding. There are thousands of unfortunate elderly patients who are suffering from various stages of terminal diseases. Though there are many laws in various states governing death with dignity of elders, hospice is the messenger which carries on this torch effectively.

Hospice patients are given the options of increasing their pain medication even though it might mean hastening of death process. They also have the right to request for themselves terminal sedation to avoid pain and suffering. They can also be allowed to dehydrate themselves to death.

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Assisted Living : Care Wtih A Personal Touch

People whenever fell sick make it a point to go to the hospital or the nursing home. It has been found that during the earlier times there was a lot of discrimination amongst the people. People were divided as per their colour which in present day terms is known as racial discrimination. Whenever the people went to the hospital some were treated as out patients and some patients had to be admitted. The doctors were in a dilemma because the people of the higher crest refused to be admitted in the same ward as that of the lower group people. They were habituated to their high lifestyle and expected all those amenities to be present in the hospital too.

Keeping in view of all these type of sophisticated requirements, doctors tried upon an idea in which the high class patients can be treated at their home at a little higher cost. The idea was a welcome gift to many wealthy people who always wanted to keep a safe distance from the lower class people. The term ‘assisted living’ meant that all the facilities would be provided by the medical staff at home.  The hospital also provided skilled staff to look after the requirements of the patients. The staffs were highly trained personnel and were supposed to live with the patient in his house.

Generally these high class patients preferred female nurses to male nurses. The reason for this was these female nurses would also be used to do the household chores too thereby getting two jobs being done by one single person instead of two different people. This facility in a way brought in a personalized touch between a doctor and a patient. The main advantage in utilizing this facility was that the doctor and the nurse would have their full attention on one single patient.

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At Home Care: Hospital At Home

Home care is said to be the most comfortable care for patients as all the facilities at home are utilised by the patients. The main reason being the patients do not feel lonely. Always they are accompanied by the family and relatives. Home care provides lot of advantage to the patient because special care will be given in the presence of the family members. Food and medicines will be given on time. The care taker is always monitored by the elderly person of the house. In most of the paralytic patients when they require massage a physiotherapist doctor always recommends home care. It makes the patient more comfortable and the ambiance helps to get well soon.

Home care for elders is one of the best ways of taking care of them. During the older ages many fall sick due to different reasons. Many old age people fall sick due to stress and they suffer with hypertension and diabetes. So they need a person who can talk to them and take care of them. Talking to the care taker the patient feels more happy and comfortable. Sharing of their views, ideas and their feelings the patients get rid of the sickness. Whereas in hospitals doctors and nurses cannot spend a lot of time to take care of an individual person. But home care is a precious gift for the elderly and sick people to give more attention as an individual.

During emergency cases home care is the best way of taking care of the patient. A person who falls sick often requires medication and first aid. So during that time home care seems to be very helpful. Home care is comparatively costlier than treating in the hospital. The care taker is paid well. Apart from this medication and food for the patient huge amount of money is spent. Home care can be put in the class as a luxury rather than a necessity. Home care is the best way to treat a patient and to give them the best care and attention.

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Nursing Homes: In No Way Second To A Hospital

In out day to day life every human being falls sick and maximum number of times an individual is never prepared for the upcoming sickness. Sickness like a stroke, drowsiness or for that matter an accident can occur in an instant and don’t give the individual any indication of the coming danger. On the other hand there are diseases which give us hints or indicative symptoms of the impending health disorders which are likely to affect our body. In any case, for all type of sickness a nursing home or hospital is required.

People are generally confused about the difference between a hospital and that of a nursing home. In fact both are almost the same and are places which do similar kind of jobs but the scale at which the job is done makes the difference. A hospital can cater to a very large group of people but a nursing home can cater to a certain amount of people. We can find hospitals mostly located in big towns and cities where as nursing homes can be found in both big cities and towns and as well small villages.

Nursing homes can be said as the first line of defense against any disease and there is a certain limit on the level of treatment given there and by no means are the facilities offered compromised. Nursing homes have a small strength of staff members and have only a few full time doctors but rest of the doctors are on contract basis, they are also called as visiting doctors. Thereby a nursing home definitely admits patients having different types of disease and for instance if they are not able to treat a particular patient.

Nursing homes also play an intermediate role in supporting the medical services as the hospitals generally find it a bit too tight to look after all the patients. So nursing homes in a way reduce the number of people going to big hospitals for petty issues thereby leaving the hospitals to look after the patients coming with more serious sickness.

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What is Assisted Living

Some elderly individuals are still somewhat self-reliant but do need help with every day tasks. There may be occasions when there is concern that an individual cannot continue to live at home due to an increased need in medical care or help with daily tasks. In this situation it is not necessary or appropriate to be placed in a nursing home. Extended family members may not have the resources available to bring them into their home either. So, what is the answer? At this point it may be a good idea to consider an assisted living residence or facility.

Assisted living housing allows an individual to continue living on their own but with supervision and assistance for tasks that the individual is unable to do on their own. This may include the supervision of medications. Assisted living is an option which allows an individual to continue to have independence and dignity.

The typical assisted living resident is a senior citizen man or woman who does not need the intense, individual care of a nursing home. Individuals who choose an assisted living situation enjoy the companionship that an assisted living setting can provide as well as have the need for some daily assistance. The actual age range of assisted living residents will vary from facility to facility. There is the added benefit that in an assisted living residence meals are prepared by a kitchen staff and there is generally a central dining facility. This also allows individuals that may otherwise be alone the chance to mingle and associate with others.

Most individuals living in an assisted living facility have their own apartments. Although there is not medical staff on call at all times or monitoring equipment in an individual’s apartment, there is trained staff available at all times of the day and night to assist when needed. Household chores are performed for the residents such as changing sheets, cooking meals, and laundry. Many facilities even have beauty salons. Often, grocery services are available also. The set up and services offered can differ from facility to facility.

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When is it Time to Go to a Nursing Home

Making the decision to either admit yourself or a loved one to a nursing home is a very difficult one. Everyone involved struggles with emotions ranging from grief to fear. Entering a nursing home is seen by many people as the “last stop” before death. Individuals struggle with a loss of freedom that they feel as they enter a nursing home. If you are the one who is placing someone in a nursing home you may be trying to manage the feelings of loss and guilt as well.

Most times when an individual comes to the point in their life where the decision of entering a nursing home needs to be made, the final decision rests upon someone else who becomes that individual’s proxy. It is very uncommon for an individual to make this decision for oneself, in fact. There are several reasons that one may need to enter a nursing home. Occasionally it is for short-term care during the recovery from a surgery or illness. Most times, however, nursing home care is long-term or end of life care due to an inability to care for oneself.

One of the main reasons that individuals are placed in a nursing home is because of an illness that requires care that cannot be given at home. Due to issues pertaining to insurance or hospital policies many people are forced to leave the hospital before they are fully healed and nursing home placement is the only option left due to the care that is still needed during recovery.

Another option in these situations is home nursing care. However, his option is not available in many parts of the United States. Even when this option is available, it can be costly and for elderly people with a fixed income this option is usually not feasible. This leaves most people with no other choice than to enter a nursing home facility to receive the care they need.

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Choices in Senior/Elder Care

Mum's 78th on 4th December 2005. She will be 7...
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There are times in life when things begin to feel complicated and overwhelming. This is not the way that it has to be. There is a solution to every problem, it often just takes some creative thinking to come up with it. As you approach your late forties, you might find that your elderly parents need additional assistance from outside sources. Due to health or eyesight, they might not be able to get around the way they once did. You might find that you have to take off work occasionally to transport them to the doctor or run errands for them. Your parents are grateful that you are able to do this and you are glad to be able to help. But, what happens when it becomes too much to handle?

There are options available for senior/elder care. These options include hiring an elder care worker to take on these responsibilities, seeking a residential care home where your parents could live, finding an assisted living program or even considering a nursing home. The choice you make with your parents will depend on the level of care that they need.

Hiring someone to run errands and help out in your parents’ home may be a good option if they are able to take care of most of their essential needs on their own. A residential care home provides meals, cleaning services and companionship in a home-like setting. This is perfect for seniors that need extra care, but prefer to stay in a more intimate setting. Assisted living programs are similar to residential care, but often there is an entire community of residents—perfect for seniors who are active and social, but need help with meals, medications and other daily needs. If medical care is necessary, the best choice may be a nursing home. Today’s choices provide optimal senior/elder care.

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What Would you Want?

When you get to the point in your life where the tables have turned (where your parents depend on you for their physical needs, as opposed to the other way around), it may be tempting to take a little revenge on them by putting them in the first second rate home you can find, and then never visiting them again. But when those evil thoughts pass you by, you realize that this is not a set of decisions which should be taken lightly. After all, just “dumping” the people who raised you is more than just a cruel thing to do to someone who most likely did the best that they could with the knowledge and experience that they had. It may also be a bad influence on the future.

You need to consider what you would want, if the situation were reversed. When your parents raised you, they most likely did all that they could to ensure that you had access to all of the programs you wanted to participate in. They probably taxied you around from after school activity to lesson to recital to practice to whatever. And how often did you so much as thank them for all of the time and energy they used in helping you to grow up to be the person you are today? If you are able to read this article on your own computer, you most likely turned out reasonably all right.

Do you really want to return all of the favors which they did to you, by simply dumping them like an unwanted kitten or a bag of recyclables at some facility where they might be treated as nothing more than a monthly check, to be kept alive like cattle in the worst of the industrial farms? Would you really want to do that to them? Well, if you do, some therapy might be in order. Keep in mind, some day it’ll be your turn.

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The Final Year of Life

When a person is on the last, and steepest part of the downhill slope which we are all told is an inevitable fact of life, there are a lot of things which weigh on a person, as well as on the family that they are leaving behind. The final year of life is generally the most expensive, due in no small part to the massive amounts of medical care that most people receive during their final few months. Since most terminal diseases provide ample warning to everyone who is involved that they are serious and will ultimately result in the end of a life, this is something that you might do well to think about when it comes to your elderly loved ones before it becomes imminently urgent.

When the end comes, you will most likely want to be there for them, as well as for your own peace of mind. One part of this is making sure you and everyone else is well aware of the final hospital where you want your loved one to stay when the end comes. There is nothing more tragic than a person whose family cannot say goodbye properly because of a simple logistical misunderstanding. This does not just extend to your elder’s final hospital, either. Where they are living, whether with you or in a nursing home, also makes a difference to the situation.

Another concern for the final year of life is identifying your loved one’s final wishes. Make certain that this is in writing, so that there is no kind of dispute with regard to what they want in regard to property, their preferred type of funeral and the final dispensation of their remains. The more you know on the first day of the final year of life, the more you will be able to focus on what is truly important as their life slips away- remembering good times together, and grieving for what you’ve lost.

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