Talking about dying is not an easy thing to do and it’s something that most people feel that they bungle. You and your elderly family member may need to talk about specific issues, but find it impossible to do more than talk around them. These tips can help.
Deal with Your Emotions
Talking to a family member who is nearing the end of her life isn’t always easy to do. There’s a lot going on and likely a lot that hasn’t gotten resolved yet, both in terms of good and bad situations. What can help is if you have done the work you need to do in order to deal with your feelings about what’s going on. The better handle you have on what’s going on, the easier it will be for you to help your senior with what she’s experiencing.
Follow Her Lead
Your elderly family member might want to talk about what’s going on and how she’s feeling. Or she might want to talk about everything but what’s going on. If you’re following her lead on all of this, it’s going to be a lot easier for both of you. You’ll avoid feeling as if you’re upsetting her and she’ll feel more comfortable talking about what she’s okay to talk about that day.
Focus on Taking the Right Approach
How you appear to be handling things is something that matters more than you think. If your senior worries that you and other family members aren’t handling this well, she may be more likely to avoid talking about some topics. Let her know that you’re there and that you’re open to whatever she is ready and willing to talk about. That’s going to help keep the lines of communication open.
You May Need More Help
These types of conversations are difficult, especially when no one wants to talk about what’s really happening and decisions need to be made. As much as you should let your senior take the lead, there may be topics that require you to push a little bit. Hospice elder care providers can help you to find the resources you need to make those conversations a little bit easier.
There’s no one right way to talk with a senior who is close to the end of her life. There are variables that make every situation different and that could serve to hinder communication. Working around those as well as you can may be all that you can do as a caregiver for someone at the end of her life.
If you are or a loved one is considering hospice elder care in Smyrna, GA, please call the caring staff at Arcturus Hospice and Palliative Care today. Call 678-383-9973 today to speak to our care team.
Kate Gorinshteyn is the director of marketing at Arcturus Health Care. Arcturus is a fast-growing Hospice striving to provide the highest level of quality care to patients faced with life-limiting illnesses. Our goal is to make each patient as pain-free as possible and give physiological, emotional and spiritual support to both the patient and family. We understand that the decision change from curative to comfort care is difficult, and our team is trained to help you every step of the way!
We are proud to make a difference in the lives of those we serve.