For most people, the holidays are a time to gather with friends and family to celebrate the season. While things may seem merry and bright, the holidays can also trigger a lot of negative emotions for people. Sadness, loneliness, anxiety and stress can all be heightened around the holidays. This year especially, with so many people isolated from their loved ones and feeling uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, those negative feelings may be abundant.
As the holidays approach, families will gather, either in person or virtually. Between bites of pumpkin pie or during the football game halftime, consider using the time together to discuss some difficult subjects, such as family health history and end-of-life planning for aging parents or relatives.
Grief is part of the human condition. According to the Family Caregiver Alliance, many loved ones of patients who receive hospice and palliative care experience anticipatory grief before losing a family member or friend. Experts agree grief isn’t linear or time-limited.
The transition from palliative care to hospice care can be a confusing time for patients and their families. It is likely they will feel many complex emotions including — sadness, fear, anger and more. As their provider, you have an opportunity to empower and educate them by keeping them informed of their options as they navigate the transition.
When someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness, treating and managing their symptoms becomes a top priority. A large part of successfully caring for someone with a terminal illness is understanding how palliative and hospice care play a role in treatment and what the transition from palliative to hospice entails.
End-of-life planning is a difficult topic to discuss under any circumstances. For family members, the topic can be tough to broach because they don’t want to imagine a reality without their loved one or don’t know how their loved one will react to this type of conversation. For those who are terminally ill, it can be just as hard or intimidating to approach the topic with their children or loved ones. They may be worried about burdening their children with sorting out care options or may be waiting for a physician or caretaker to initiate the conversation for them.
In the face of coronavirus, we are looking at a difficult and tumultuous time for healthcare professionals, patients and their families.
Caregiving is a 24/7 job and sometimes that's on top of your existing 9-5.
Not only is being a caregiver a huge time commitment, but it's also emotionally demanding. That being said, caregiving is also incredibly rewarding and truly makes a difference in the lives of so many people.
But, how do you provide care to someone else and manage your daily life without sacrificing your own health and well being?
Everyone wants to think that they'll have a little more time with their aging family members. It's hard to think about losing someone you love, so a lot of families tend to put off talking about end-of-life care. Having an open and honest conversation with your loved one about their wishes for care is important, and having that conversation early is imperative to providing them with the best quality of life.
In-home primary care is for anyone homebound with a serious injury or illness, regardless of age or prognosis. It’s a personalized experience, in the comfort of one’s own home. This type of care focuses on managing symptoms and providing treatment to promote a better quality of life. In-home primary care is offered by Hospice of Southwest Ohio’s partner organization, CareBridge Primary and Palliative Care.
