How Can You Tell that it’s Time to Talk to Your Loved One about Palliative Care?
Knowing when it’s time to move to palliative care isn’t as simple as scheduling a date on the calendar. There are a lot of different factors to consider with your loved one. This list can help you to make a more informed decision.
Her Condition is Stable, but Overall Is Declining
Your loved one can be in stable condition but still experience worsening health overall. This can be evidenced by specific symptoms that are becoming worse over time. Your loved one might also be complaining of some of her milder symptoms more often, indicating that overall her health isn’t doing as well as it was previously.
Your Loved One’s Quality of Life Is Declining
One of the biggest indicators that caregivers and the medical profession tend to use is quality of life. If your loved one’s quality of life is declining, this can mean that she’s less satisfied overall with her life or that her life is no longer as enjoyable as it once was. When her quality of life is declining, a change is in order to hopefully stall that progress.
She’s Tired of Going to the Hospital
Going to the hospital is exhausting, especially if your loved one frequently goes to the emergency room and then ends up being admitted. What can make the situation worse is if your loved one is going to the hospital for the same symptoms and problems, with no real change to how those problems can be resolved. Your loved one may determine that spending time at the hospital isn’t a good use of her time.
She’s Not Interested in Further Treatments
Besides the hospital, there may be other types of treatments that your loved one isn’t enjoying any longer. She may feel that they aren’t helpful or she may feel that they’re just not worth participating in anymore. Regardless, palliative care can help her to manage her symptoms in other ways in the time that she has left.
As your loved one’s family caregiver, it may be up to you to make this change. You’ve been on this journey with your loved one, so you have what you need to make the right decision.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering palliative care in Philadelphia, PA, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice today. Call (215) 867-5405.
