Caring for Terminally Ill Patients and their Caregivers

Even in healthcare settings, death is (understandably) really uncomfortable to talk about. Most of us don’t want to think about our own death, let alone that of our loved ones. It’s hard– but that’s what makes these conversations so important to have in advance.

End of life care can be very stressful for both patients and families. Having conversations about wishes for end of life care now can make this difficult time a little less stressful later. With the current pandemic, a lot of people aren’t even able to have their family around them, which I think we can all agree sounds even more difficult.

Care for Terminally Ill Patients

One of the most important things you can do, even if you are healthy right now, is to fill out advance directives. You can find New York’s here, and every other state’s here. These forms basically document your wishes about end of life care– what you would want in the event you can’t speak for yourself, who can make decisions about your healthcare, etc. While it can be really hard to fill these out and think about a time when they might need to be used, completing them and knowing that neither yourself or your family will be burdened with stressful decision-making is worth taking the time.

When patients are in the last few months of life, hospice is one of the options available to them. In Albany, the Community Hospice provides hospice services to patients at home, in nursing facilities, and also in St. Peter’s hospital at the Hospice Inn.

Visiting Angels is another option for in-home care, especially for people who want to remain as independent as possible. You can schedule visits and create a care plan to help with daily activities, providing company, and helping with meals and medications.

There are a couple more end of life care options that I have listed on a separate post here.

Supporting Caregivers

Caregiver burden can really affect the health of family caregivers and also patients. It’s important that caregivers get the support and relief they need when caring for a loved one– here are some resources in Albany for caregiver support, including a support group. Having been a caregiver myself, I know it can be really relieving to talk to people that have or are experiencing similar stresses.

Caregiving during a pandemic can be even more difficult– the CDC has listed some helpful tips for caregiving at this time to try and prepare for staying at home for a longer period of time. If you are caregiving for someone, it’s important to check in with yourself from time to time and recognize when you need a break. It can be really hard to ask for help, but doing it all alone also gets really overwhelming really fast. On the other hand, if you know someone that is a caregiver, make sure you take some time to ask them if they need anything (picking up medications, groceries) and what you can do to help.

While end of life care has always been a part of healthcare, I think this pandemic has increased awareness of its importance and brought it to everyone’s attention a little more. These conversations and experiences will always be difficult, but thankfully there are some resources that can help make sure patients and families receive support as they go through it.

22,379 thoughts on “Caring for Terminally Ill Patients and their Caregivers

  1. Dewavegas Merupakan Judi Bandar Togel Asia, Slot IDN Online Terbaik & Terpercaya, Dewa Vegas Keluaran Singapure, Sydney, Hongkong & Thailand. dewavegas

    Reply

  2. Join 24kbet today for a premium online betting experience with top-notch security, diverse gaming options, and unbeatable promotions.

    Reply

  3. Join 24kbetcasino for a premier onlinegambling experience, where the thrill of every game feels as valuable as 24 karats of gold.

    Reply

  4. Thanks for this great post, i find it very interesting and very well thought out and put together. I look forward to reading your work in the future. OK Win

    Reply

  5. I was reading some of your content on this website and I conceive this internet site is really informative ! Keep on putting up. exototo

    Reply

  6. I’ve been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this web site. Thank you, I’ll try and check back more frequently. How frequently you update your website? iptv france

    Reply

  7. Interesting and amazing how your post is! It Is Useful and helpful for me That I like it very much, and I am looking forward to Hearing from your next.. slot exototo

    Reply

  8. Definitely believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the net the easiest thing to be aware of. I say to you, I definitely get annoyed while people think about worries that they just don’t know about. You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out the whole thing without having side effect , people can take a signal. Will likely be back to get more. Thanks slot online

    Reply

  9. thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post iptv france

    Reply

  10. I really like this website! I love the content. .__________________________________ .Dayton Ohio Roofers iptv france

    Reply

  11. I just found this blog and have high hopes for it to continue. Keep up the great work, its hard to find good ones. I have added to my favorites. Thank You. Thomas Jefferson

    Reply

  12. Bulan89 merupakan situs slot gacor pilihan utama bagi para member setia, yuk buruan join di bulan 89.

    Reply

  13. I do believe all of the ideas you’ve offered to your post. They’re really convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are very brief for starters. May just you please lengthen them a little from next time? Thank you for the post. Abogado Barcelona penalista

    Reply

  14. Interesting topic for a blog. I have been searching the Internet for fun and came upon your website. Fabulous post. Thanks a ton for sharing your knowledge! It is great to see that some people still put in an effort into managing their websites. I’ll be sure to check back again real soon. fun card games

    Reply

  15. AniWorld ist eine erstklassige Streaming-Plattform für Anime-Liebhaber und bietet eine riesige Bibliothek von Anime-Serien und Filmen in allen Genres. Unsere benutzerfreundliche Oberfläche, personalisierte Empfehlungen und Community Funktionen verbessern Ihr Seherlebnis. aniworld.to ist auf mehreren Geräten verfügbar und bietet sowohl kostenlose als auch Premium-Abonnementpläne. Tauchen Sie ein in die Welt der Anime mit AniWorld und verbinden Sie sich mit Fans weltweit!

    Reply

  16. Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on! slot gacor

    Reply

  17. Hey, you used to write fantastic, but the last several posts have been kinda boring… I miss your tremendous writings. Past few posts are just a little out of track! come on! lenti fotocromatiche

    Reply

  18. I needed to write you that little bit of remark to help give many thanks once again with your striking solutions you’ve featured on this website. It was certainly extremely open-handed of you to grant publicly what exactly most people would have made available as an e-book to generate some profit for themselves, specifically seeing that you could have done it if you considered necessary. Those solutions in addition acted like a fantastic way to realize that some people have similar interest similar to mine to know good deal more related to this condition. I am certain there are some more enjoyable moments ahead for individuals who scan through your site. miglior casco bici

    Reply

  19. grat article but maybe please update this post with more detail, i really think this would help a lot of people. pola slot

    Reply

  20. 24bets is a leading online betting platform that offers a vast array of sports betting and casinogames, providing users with exciting opportunities to win big.

    Reply

  21. extraordinary records sharing .. i’m very glad to read this newsletter .. thanks for giving us undergo info.excellent excellent. I respect this submit. doujin sak

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *