End-of-Life Care in Allentown PA: Many family caregivers who have a solid self-care practice get confused when their loved one moves into the end of her life. Your self-care plan is still important but it might need some adjusting to continue to work for you.
Lots of what you know about your caregiving journey changes as your senior parent nears the end of her life. How you cope and what your self-care plan requires may need adjusting to continue to work for you. Keep some of these suggestions in mind as you look at what can stay and what can go.
You Don’t Have to Give up Your Self-care Activities
Caring for your elderly loved one means caring for yourself, too, so you probably have a solid routine in place that allows you to manage all of those tasks. When your senior’s health starts to falter, that’s when you need your own self-care plan the most. Giving up those activities doesn’t have to be the answer.
You Might Want to Modify Them
On the other hand, you may need to modify your routine a little bit to accommodate your aging parent’s changing needs. You can start following yoga classes that you stream from the Internet, for example, or meet for coffee with your best friend rather than meeting for lunch. You might start moving activities that require your full attention, such as meditating or praying, for when your loved one’s end-of-life care providers are there.
Avoid Adding New Activities, if Possible
Modifying what you already do is easier than learning and adding new techniques and activities to your already packed day. That doesn’t mean that you can’t start adding self-care tools to your arsenal that work for you. Do so with care, however, and with an understanding that something else might have to go.
Stick to Your Self-care Plan
When you’ve been working a self-care plan for a while, it’s an essential part of your coping toolbox. Stick with the plan, even when you’re not feeling up to it. If you deviate from your self-care plan now, you’re more likely to experience difficulty managing added stress in your life. Help yourself stay on target by sticking with what already works for you.
If you don’t already have a self-care practice, it’s not too late to start one, but you’ll need to go slowly so that you don’t overwhelm yourself.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering end-of-life care in Allentown, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.
Michael Drew, LNHA
Michael Drew LNHA is the administrator of Serenity Hospice PA, servicing the greater Bensalem and Philadelphia areas. In this capacity, he leads and inspires the company’s mission of providing quality and compassionate end-of-life care and supportive services for patients and their families, and to enhance their quality of life. Michael’s hallmark is his genuine concern for patients and his dedication to meeting their needs.
A veteran of providing quality healthcare, Michael has served with distinction in a variety of leadership capacities for nearly two decades, notably as administrator for several Skilled Nursing Facilities in New Jersey. Known as an innovative and solution-oriented individual, Michael has his finger on the pulse on new trends and concepts in providing quality care.
