“A parent’s love is whole no matter how many times divided.” ~ Robert Brault
If you think back to your childhood you can probably remember countless times when your parents took care of you, wiping your tears after a fall, nurturing you when you were sick, driving you back and forth for sports, back to school shopping, the list is endless. As you become an adult yourself you might find yourself in the caregiver role as your parent’s age. From health and wellness concerns to financial considerations, some conversations might be difficult but are important to address, hospice care is just one of those discussions you might find yourself having so it’s important to know what to expect. Aging can be difficult and watching your parents become frail can be hard to accept.
When it comes to hospice care, understanding signs that your parents might be ready can help reduce anxiety and stress and can also help honor your parent’s wishes. Here are some common signs your aging parent might need hospice care.
Treatment is no longer working
Depending on your parent’s illness, they might have reached a point when treatment is no longer advisable or working. On the other hand, your parents may no longer desire aggressive intervention and may seek a better quality of life for their remaining life. Hospice care can begin when a doctor decides the patient’s life expectancy is six months or less if the illness follows its usual path. The doctor can recertify the patient for longer periods if your loved one lives beyond six months. Hospice care is 100% covered by Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance providers for eligible patients.
Hospital or doctor visits are becoming frequent
Urgent care, emergency rooms, doctor’s office, specialty physicians, if the list and frequency of visits are becoming a common reoccurrence, it is a sign of declining health and might be time to consider hospice care
Confusion and restlessness
Older adults near the end of life may experience restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, and even times of combativeness. If you notice any of these symptoms it is worth addressing with the primary physician.
Changes in appetite
Unexplained weight loss, a change in eating habits and a reduced desire for food could be a sign that the body is slowing down or not digesting properly.
Feeling overwhelmed as a caregiver
Did you know there are 40.4 million unpaid caregivers of adults ages 65 and older in the United States? Most of these caregivers are adult children and are struggling to keep their heads above the water when caring for aging parents. If you are a caregiver and are feeling overwhelmed, hospice care can provide much-needed respite for everyone involved.
Adolf Funeral Home and Cremation Services prides itself on providing exemplary customer services. We take every measure to ensure you are satisfied with all your funeral planning and burial needs during this sensitive time of grief and mourning and will do whatever it takes to make our positive workplace environment translate to your experience with us. Adolf Funeral Home has been serving the Berwyn and Willowbrook areas for a number of years. We pride ourselves on being large enough to provide professionalism and reliability, yet small enough to provide personalized service. To discover more about how we can serve your needs, please visit our website or call one of our locations today.
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