As patients near the end of their life, it becomes increasingly difficult on their families to cope with their emotions and fears. At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we’re here to help families navigate their fears and find peace and closure during this emotional time. If you’re going through this difficult time, here are seven things we hope you understand about the end-of-life journey that may help you cope.
You’re not alone.
We have a whole team—nurses, social workers, spiritual counselors, and volunteers—who can come alongside you in this journey. Our nurses are available 24/7 and just a phone call away. Whether you need emotional guidance or are facing an emergency situation, you’re not alone; we’re here to help you through it all.
You and your loved one have a choice in what you want their end-of-life journey to look like.
We initially work with our patient’s primary physician to establish a care plan, but you have a say in it as well. Each family is different, and we personalize our services to reflect your own unique wishes. Maybe your loved one has special requests in regards to pain management, or perhaps you’d like us to approach your family’s spiritual journey in a specific way—we listen to you and build your loved one’s care plan around your choices.
There’s no set timeline to your loved one’s journey.
The medication we provide patients doesn’t hasten death; it’s simply a way to manage their pain and symptoms. The truth is, there is no set length to your loved one’s journey, and in fact, their journey can change as they approach the end. There are times when patients outlive their initial prognosis or even come off hospice care altogether. As care providers, we understand this and treat our patients along their entire journey, whatever that looks like and however long it may be.
Our nurses are here to answer your questions and keep you informed.
One of our main roles as your hospice care provider is to educate you and your loved one on what their journey might entail. Our nurses will inform you on what to expect during the dying process based on your loved one’s diagnosis and symptoms. Our nurses are always available to answer your questions and calm your concerns. You can call us whenever you need us, and we’ll answer your questions and be right by your side.
We’ll do everything we can to minimize or eliminate your loved one’s pain.
A fear many of our patients and families have is what they’ll feel as they approach death. Pain management is an important part of a patient’s care plan, and we make a great deal of effort to ensure they’re comfortable at all times.
We’ll keep caring and supporting you, even after your loved one has passed.
Coping with your loved one’s death will be difficult, but it’s often the feeling of loss after they’ve passed that is the most challenging to families. While the patient is the priority at Ardent, their loved ones are just as important to us. That’s why our care and support doesn’t stop after our patient passes. Our social worker, and often our nurses and volunteers, will continue to check in on you and your family to see how you’re doing. We can also connect you to resources like bereavement programs and grief counseling to help you through your emotional and spiritual after-death journey.
You may stumble spiritually, and that’s okay.
The grieving process looks and feels differently for everyone. Some people draw closer to God while others may question the spiritual component they have in their life. With hospice care, we provide our patients and families with access to a spiritual counselor to help them through their journey in a way that feels right for them. We never push religion or spiritual direction, but we do encourage our patients to seek peace and clarity as they approach the end of life, and we strive to help their families find that peace as well.
The end-of-life journey isn’t one you and your loved one have to take alone. At Ardent Hospice & Palliative Care, we walk with you hand in hand and deliver personalized care throughout the journey. To learn more about how we can help and support you and your loved one, visit us online or call us at (858) 952-1786.
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