Walking Each Other Home: How to Ease End-of-Life Care

Learn how to ease end-of-life care with these tips.

Although the holiday season may be filled with joy, it can also spark feelings of loss and nostalgia for loved ones who are no longer with us. It’s also an incredibly poignant time for anyone who is caring for a loved one nearing the end of life. The ebbs and tides of life, as we know, do not always follow our schedules, routines, or desired outcomes. It becomes crucial to know how to ease end-of-life care to bring much-needed comfort during this trying time.

If you are in the midst of a season of providing end-of-life care, here are some thoughts to keep in mind that will help you best help the person in your care – as well as yourself.

Provide a calming environment. Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now, describes how important it is to leave emotions like fear and anxiety at the door when you are with someone nearing the end of life. Instead, bring with you a comforting sense of peace and unconditional love. It’s a matter of placing your focus first and foremost on the other person’s needs instead of getting caught up in your own emotions.

Remember who the person was before. A terminal illness can change a person – physically, cognitively, or emotionally (or all of the above). If you find it hard to connect with the person as a result of these changes – for example, in the final stages of Alzheimer’s disease – focusing on memories from the past can be helpful. Remember how the person enjoyed spending their time, what made them smile, and the impact they had on those around them.

Don’t neglect self-care. The level of care you provide to someone else is only as good as the care you take in making sure your own needs are met. Be kind to yourself. Designate plenty of time for activities you enjoy and that are healing. Listen to your favorite music, get lost in a great book, talk with family and friends, write in a journal. Make sure you are eating healthy, exercising, and getting plenty of rest.

How Can Home Care Help?

An in-home caregiver can help both you and the person you love in so many ways with end-of-life care. For instance, we can:

• Run errands, such as grocery shopping and picking up prescriptions
• Prepare healthy meals
• Take care of light housekeeping and laundry
• Offer companionship to help the person receiving hospice care to engage in conversations or activities of interest
• And so much more

End-of-life care is never a journey you need to walk alone. Contact Hired Hands Homecare any time at (866) 940-4343 to learn more about how to ease end-of-life care with a trusted partner by your side. Our services are available in Novato, Santa Rosa, Pleasanton, and the surrounding areas. Visit our Locations and Service Area page to see if we can help in your area.