While it is not something that you want to think about, it is a reality that as a family caregiver you will eventually need to confront your aging parent’s end-of-life transition. Though you do not want to dwell on this or allow it to become something that overtakes all of your care efforts, ignoring or denying it can make both of you uncomfortable and leave you in a position of making very difficult decisions without guidance. It is extremely important that you take the time to help your parent record their final wishes while they are still able so that when the time comes, you are ready to help them through this transition as smoothly and peacefully as possible, and to make the decisions that you know that they would want you to make.
Some ways that you can help your parent record their final wishes include:
- Get a planning guide. Many sources offer planning guides to help make coming up with and recording these plans easier. These guides are thorough, potentially presenting situations and issues that you had not even considered. While you do not have to use them explicitly or do exactly what they say, these guides can provide a foundation on which your parent starts building these plans.
- Write them down. Do not just discuss your parent’s wishes and hope that you remember them. Writing them down will not only ensure that you remember them properly, but will give you something to use for further discussions with them later if they mention plans that are different from those they recorded.
- Make a video. Give your parent complete control over what they want to say and how they want to present their final wishes by making a video of them. Provide them with the technology and encourage them to speak openly and honestly about their thoughts, feelings, and wishes regarding their future. This is not only valuable when you make these decisions later, but will also act as a way to preserve the memory of your parent for yourself and for future generations.
Starting senior care for your elderly loved one can be one of the best decisions that you make in the course of your caregiver journey with them. A senior home care services provider can be with your parent on a schedule that is right for them, meaning that they are available to care for your parent when and as much as they need them, and however fits in with the care efforts that you already give. It is a common misconception that senior care is only for seniors who are dealing with serious challenges or who are very “old”. This, however, is not the case. Even if your aging loved one is still active and only has mild to moderate needs, they can still receive a wide variety of benefits from care. The highly personalized services of a senior home care services provider can act as a support system, helping your parent to save time and energy for the things that they want to do in life.
For more information about how the caregivers at La Jolla Nurses Homecare can help your aging parents remain in their own homes, call 858-454-9339. We are a home care agency providing quality and affordable senior care in La Jolla, CA, and the surrounding communities.
Today we are the oldest and most experienced private duty agency in San Diego County.She saw a need for quality private duty home health care and she worked diligently to build an agency that filled that need.I am proud to say, her vision is carried on today with our dedicated staff.
I believe our tenure in the community speaks well for us.We have had the opportunity to be of service to countless interesting individuals, including local and worldwide celebrities.It is the people we care for that makes this a fascinating industry.Whether high profile or a more ordinary citizen, we are proud that thousands have entrusted us with their care or the care of their loved ones.Our Mission is to provide high quality, very secure and the most compassionate home health care.We believe that patients heal faster and are happiest when they can stay in their homes.”
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