5 Tips for Talking to Family Members about End-of-life Issues

Talking to people near the end of their lives about those concerns is not an easy conversation to have. It’s so difficult that many families put those conversations off for way too long. Having a plan for these types of conversations and then following through is really important. Depending on the specific situation, hospice care may be able to help make these conversations much easier.

Be Honest and Open

It’s essential to be honest and open when talking to seniors and other family members about death. Family caregivers can be empathetic and sensitive to how the person nearing death is feeling while also being upfront about their own fears and questions. This helps everyone to be on the same page and ensures that any concerns are in the open and can be addressed. If there’s a lot that family caregivers are sorting out regarding their own feelings, sometimes therapy or talking with a support group can offer a lot of relief.

Listen to Their Concerns

As many concerns as family caregivers have, the person nearing the end of their life also has a lot of concerns, anxieties, or worries. Sometimes people nearing death worry about sharing those concerns because they fear family members may not be up for facing those feelings. Family caregivers can help most by listening carefully and showing as much empathy as possible. Asking questions to clarify and hopefully find solutions can help.

Offer Support

When faced with a terminal condition, most people really just need support. Offering as much emotional and hands-on support as possible is a lot easier with help. Home care providers can be a huge help for family caregivers who are already spread too thin but want to be as helpful as they can be to the people they love. Other ways to offer support include just spending time with seniors and connecting with them.

Provide Information

Learning as much as possible and ensuring that seniors nearing death have the information that they need to make decisions about their situation is easier with help. Support groups, medical providers, and even hospice care providers can all help with this goal. The nearer someone is to the end of their life, the more they may need to decide in terms of legal matters. All of that is easier with information.

Know When to Seek Help

At some point, seniors nearing the end of life need more help than family caregivers may be able to provide. People dealing with a terminal illness need the support and assistance that hospice care can offer. Hospice is recommended typically when people near the point when they’re expected to live only for six more months. Hospice can also help families to find access to other resources when they need them.

Dealing with end-of-life issues is never easy and talking about them can be even more difficult. The key is often to be able to find the right help, and hospice care can assist tremendously with helping families to understand and to locate the types of help that they need the most.

If you are considering hospice care in Rocklin, CA, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at PIC Comfort Care today. Call (530) 885-9948.