Planning, coordination & support for end-of-life
Our team of nurses, social workers, and End-of-Life Doulas help guide you in the final stages of a terminal illness.
The final stage
It can become evident that in spite of the best care, attention, and treatment, your loved one is approaching the end of their life. At this point, the focus usually changes to making them as comfortable as possible in order to make the most of the time they have left. Depending on the nature of the illness and your loved one’s circumstances, this final stage may last from a matter of weeks or months to several years. During this time, hospice may be required to help to control pain and other symptoms, such as constipation, nausea, or shortness of breath.
Support
Even with years of experience, caregivers often find this final part of the caregiving journey uniquely challenging. Simple acts of daily care are often combined with complex end-of-life decisions and painful feelings of grief and loss. You may experience a range of distressing and conflicting emotions, such as sorrow and anxiety, anger and denial, relief that your loved one’s struggle is at an end, or guilt that you’ve somehow failed as their caregiver. Whatever you’re experiencing, it’s important to recognize late stage caregiving requires plenty of support. It can range from practical support for end-of-life care and financial and legal arrangements, to emotional support to help you come to terms with all the difficult feelings you’re experiencing as you face up to the loss of your loved one.
Timing
At the end of life, each story is different. For some, death comes suddenly. Other times a person lingers, gradually fading. For some older people, the body weakens while the mind stays alert.
Goodbye
Late-stage care is also a time for saying goodbye to your loved one, to resolve any differences, forgive any grudges, and to express your love. While late stage caregiving can be an extremely painful time, having this opportunity to say goodbye can also be a gift to help you come to terms with your loss and make the transition from nursing and grief towards acceptance and healing.
End of Life Care
End-of-life care is the term used to describe support in the time surrounding death. Such care does not happen only in the moments before breathing ceases and the heart stops beating. Older people often live with one or more chronic illnesses and need a lot of care for days, weeks, and even months before death.
We provide extra support when Hospice is involved, as Hospice is unable to provided 24 hour care.