As you’re feeling your elderly family member withdrawing from you and from the other people who love her, you may feel as if there’s a lot more that you need to be doing. In reality, there are only a few things that you really need to be doing right now and they all focus around your aging adult.

Identify Yourself When You Talk to Her

Your elderly family member may be drifting in and out of consciousness, especially as she grows ever closer to the end of her life. When you talk with her, gently remind her who you are. Simply stating something like, “Mom, it’s Stacy” can help your aging adult to be able to recognize your presence. Even if she doesn’t wake up, she’ll know you’re there.

Keep Your Voice and Your Touch Gentle

Anything that might startle your senior is really not a great idea at this time. She’s in a state of being that is calmer and that is slowing down, so everything that you can do in order to accommodate that change in pace is welcome. Remember to keep your touch light and gentle and to make your voice do the same.

Remember that Silence Is Okay

Often caregivers worry that they need to have activities and conversation going for as long as possible. The truth is that this can be even more exhausting for your aging adult than everything else that she’s dealing with right now. It’s okay to allow some extended silences and to simply be with your elderly family member. She might enjoy having you read to her or listening to a favorite song or two with you, but this doesn’t have to be a constant thing.

You’re There to Support and Love Your Family Member as She Passes

While you’ve been your senior’s caregiver, you’ve likely played quite a few different roles in her care. But for right now, you’re there to support and to love her as she gets closer to passing. You may still be filling other roles for her as her caregiver, but your chief one is to be there when she’s alert and wants to talk. You can sort out all the rest of it as it becomes necessary to do so.

Hospice care services can help you and your aging adult to deal with the situations that she’s experiencing. They can help to make these final stages of your family member’s life much easier on both of you.

If you or an aging parent are considering hospice elder care in Allentown, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.