How Can End-of-life Care Help an Elderly Loved One with Alzheimer’s Disease Manage Pain?


The end of your loved one’s life can be terrifying for you as her family caregiver, especially if she has Alzheimer’s disease. Managing all of the aspects of her care can be overwhelming, particularly if she’s experiencing pain, too. Having the right care providers available can take that confusion away.
Your Loved One Is Putting out Signals
Even when you’re not able to discern pain signals in your loved one or she’s unable to communicate with you verbally, your loved one is doing things to let you know that she’s hurting. If you have experienced hospice caregivers helping you, they can often spot these signs quickly due to their experience with this situation.
Behavioral Changes Can Be a Mystery for You
One of those extremely subtle signs of pain can manifest as behavioral changes that strike you as odd but mean something totally different to someone who has seen this type of thing before. Those changes, such as vocalizations or new repetitive actions, can be an indication that your loved one needs something that hasn’t been addressed yet. Once that situation is addressed, your loved one is more likely to revert to her normal behavior.
End-of-life Caregivers Are a Liaison
This is a difficult time for you and for other family members. Your loved one’s end-of-life caregiver can serve as a knowledgeable liaison between your loved one and yourself and her doctor. When you’re not sure where to turn or what is even important to mention, they can get the right information to your loved one’s doctor quickly and efficiently.
You Can Stay Open to New Approaches
Since they’re experienced in these situations, your loved one’s end-of-life care providers can help you to find new solutions and new approaches to all sorts of problems, including your loved one’s pain. Finding new options can go a long way toward giving you something to look forward to with your loved one’s continued care rather than feeling helpless in the face of her situation.
Every elderly loved one has different needs and having end-of-life care ready for her can help you to manage those needs, even when you’re not sure what they might be.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering end-of-life care in Upper Darby, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.
