It goes without saying that patients who receive the news of them having a little time to live go through quite depressing times. They experience a mix of different feelings such as stress, anxiety, etc. This also takes a toll on their mental health.
This phase is not only tough for them but for their friends, family, and loved ones as well. They also experience the same feeling. The thought of having a loved one leaving this world can really prove to be heart-wrenching. However, it is their responsibility to muster up the courage and brace themselves for the tough times ahead. Moreover, it is also their duty to become a source of respite for the patient and take care of them.
If you are also going through these daunting times, here are some of the things you can do to take care of the patient and provide them with ample support:
Spend Time with Them
Let’s start with the obvious! The best thing you can do for them in such a situation is to give them the most valuable thing – your time. Spend as much time as possible with them and try to make memories with them that you will always cherish even when they are not around.
As the modern-day lifestyle literally keeps everyone on their toes. Thus, take time out from busy schedules can prove to be a tough task for some. But the key is to manage your schedule in such a way that you are at least spending a couple of hours with them daily.
Help Them with their Daily Chores
People who are terminally ill often become too weak to carry out their routine tasks. Even if they are able to do so, their deteriorated mental health may act as a hindrance in this regard. You can make this tough phase of their life relatively easy by assisting them with their daily chores. Help them with meal preparation or doing other household work. Not only it will give you an opportunity to spend some time with them but also provide them respite and support.
Listen to Them without Showing Irritation
While you are spending some time with them, make a point to listen to what they have to say. Quite often they may sound too depressing or frustrating, it is your job to be all ears for them without showing any sign of annoyance or irritation.
Fulfill their Last Wish(es)
If they have any wish(es) unfulfilled, this might be the right time for you to take this initiative and fulfill them. Arrange for activities that make them happy and infuse positivity in them. This will take the negativity away and they will be able to spend the remaining time of their life rather happily.
Get Hospice Care for Them
Undoubtedly, the best way to make them happy and provide them comfort in the last phase of a patient’s life is to get hospice care arranged for them. This takes them out from the gloomy atmosphere created in the hospital and provides them respite and comfort in their own residence. Hospice care can also be arranged in assisted living centers, nursing homes, and dedicated centers created for this purpose.
Many hospice care centers in Los Angeles such as Good Heart Hospice & Palliative Care offer numerous services that make the patient’s remaining life easy and comfortable They also provide companionship to patients and emergency services as well. So, if your loved one suffers from a fatal disease that has become incurable, contact Good Heart Hospice & Palliative Care at your earliest.
It is important to note that a patient qualifies for this type of care when they have at least six months to live. The longer they delay getting this service, the fewer hospice benefits they will be able to obtain.
Conclusion
All in all, those who have reached the last stage of their life, they are in need of the time and care of their loved ones. They may not say it themselves but always remember that you will have to be there for them in this tough time.