Elder Care: End of Life Concerns

Planning for death makes us confront our fears of losing loved ones and also our fears concerning our own death.

Hospice
The purpose of hospice is to bring the highest quality of life to someone's last days. Those with terminal illnesses can live as comfortably as possible in hospice care, instead of living in a hospital and undergoing constant procedures and tests. Hospice workers have a different approach to medical care. They focus more on pain management and the emotional aspects of dying, not only for the patient but for the family as well.

Burial decisions
Advance planning is becoming more and more popular as people realize how comforting it can be to have tough decisions already made. The death of a loved one is never easy. But trying to make decisions during such an emotionally challenging time can be extremely difficult.

You can interview different funeral homes in advance, inquiring about services and prices and deciding which options are right for you and your loved one. Writing specific burial instructions into a will or a testamentary letter ensures that no one has to guess what the deceased would have wanted.

If you are faced with making decisions immediately after a loved one's death, there are steps you can take to reduce some of the stress. First, if decisions don't need to be made right away, don't make them. Wait until you've had some time to grieve. If decisions do need to be made immediately, ask some trusted friends to help. They may not be as emotionally distracted as you are, and they will be able to help you make objective decisions.