Transitioning your loved one to end-of-life care is never easy. On both an emotional and pragmatic level, the challenges that this type of care presents require the utmost sensitivity and attention to detail. At Generations Home Care, we believe no one should face that journey alone. Here’s how in-home caregivers can help with end-of-life care to help clients maintain peace and dignity.
The End-of-Life Care Continuum
Every patient’s end-of-life journey is unique, and they all require different levels of support along the way. Palliative care helps patients with terminal conditions improve their quality of life and mitigate suffering. Hospice care comes later when patients have decided to end curative treatments and want to live their final days in as much comfort as possible. But regardless of where patients fall on this continuum, in-home caregivers can provide valuable support for their non-medical needs that other healthcare providers can’t.
Compassion and Companionship
End-of-life care requires a deeply personal and compassionate touch that can be difficult to find outside an in-home care setting. With an in-home caregiver, your loved one will receive one-on-one attention to their needs and concerns. It’s imperative for people not to feel alone or isolated while receiving end-of-life care, and an in-home caregiver can ensure that never happens. In-home caregivers are a crucial pillar of support during a difficult and tumultuous time.
Comfort in Familiar Settings
A recent poll found that most Americans would prefer to die at home. This viewpoint makes sense. Rather than spending their days in a sterile hospital room, most people would instead be surrounded by a familiar setting that makes them feel comfortable and at home. Dying at home has been shown to provide people with a greater sense of peace and less grief for loved ones, but it also requires more support. To realize the benefits of receiving end-of-life care at home, an in-home caregiver can step in to provide support for your loved one’s needs so they can spend their days in contentment.
Preserve Dignity and Respect
People often fear the loss of agency that comes with end-of-life care. A person near the end of their life often needs more intensive care to stay comfortable. In a worst-case scenario, this loss of independence can also feel like a loss of dignity. But maintaining dignity during end-of-life care is far from impossible, and an in-home caregiver can help ensure your loved one’s dignity is honored every step of the way. Caregivers treat your loved one as a person, not just a patient, and they can continue to ensure that their individual needs and wants are respected.
Dignity and respect are just as crucial for a person’s loved ones as it is for the patient receiving care. Grappling with the reality of end-of-life care is difficult for all involved, and seeing a loved one lose their agency and dignity in an impersonal setting can be deeply upsetting for loved ones. As a result, maintaining your loved one’s grace is a vital part of making the emotional journey for family members as smooth as possible. Just as your loved one deserves the right to die with dignity, we believe that you should be able to focus on connecting with them on a personal level in this difficult time.
Give Loved Ones a Chance to Connect
Most people might not anticipate how much physical work end-of-life care at home requires. Unfortunately, this means that family caregivers can spend more time on essential tasks than connecting with loved ones during these precious moments. Joy Johnston, for instance, says she “felt more like a tired nurse than a devoted daughter” while providing family caregiving to her mother at the end of her life.
No one should have to feel like they must sacrifice time spent with a loved one during their end-of-life care in exchange for ensuring their continuing comfort. An in-home caregiver can remove the burden of care so you can be present for your loved one however they need you to be. Overall, in-home care strives to give your loved one the absolute best in end-of-life care, allowing you to spend that precious time in the most meaningful way.
About Generations Home Care
Generations Home Care personalized in-home care and support services help those recovering from illness, injury, or surgery, living with a chronic disease, or dealing with the natural process of aging. We help people live a fuller, healthier, and independent life.
Our caregivers are trained in the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended COVID-19 safety precautions. We offer levels of care ranging from companionship, to respite for the primary family caregiver, to homemaking services, to assistance with activities of daily living, to Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Generations Home Care takes a holistic approach and emphasizes a consistent, client-centered plan of care.
Our Specialty Services Include:
- Rehab or hospital-to-home programs for safe discharge.
- Short-term post-operative care during recovery periods.
- Non-medical life management services for people with chronic conditions.
- Veteran’s connection to care program.
- Live-in services and couples care.
If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you, contact us today at 602-595-HOME (4663) or by filling out the contact form on our website.
