Planning Ahead for the Terminally Ill

Perhaps the news hit you like a ton of bricks. Perhaps you knew it was coming, but you can never truly be prepared for it, can you? Knowing that someone you love and care for is battling a terminal illness can be a devastating blow — physically, emotionally and spiritually. You don’t know how you’re going to cope without them, and you don’t know where to turn.

For you, your loved one, and your family — there’s hospice care.

You may not want to think about it now, but planning ahead can save a lot of headache, uncertainty and fear, later. We at True Care hospice have made this guide to help you better prepare and plan ahead so that when the time comes to choose hospice, you’ll know how to move forward with confidence.

Let the Reality Sink In

It can feel like swallowing a rock, but it’s an important stage of the planning process to let the reality sink in — slowly, if you need to. Everyone passes through different stages of acceptance, and there is no “right way” for anyone. We’re all different, and we’re all in this life together.

Keeping this in mind is crucial to helping you take that first step and moving forward with choosing the best way to care for your loved one, with confidence, comfort and understanding.

Focus on the Patient’s Needs and Care

Although your loved one may be diagnosed with a terminal illness, that doesn’t mean that their last days should be spent in solitude, misery or pain. Hospice care is here to make sure that every day of their last days are days filled with joy.

To that end, hospice care medical staff, volunteers, social workers and other professionals can provide not only daily hygiene and medical care, but also spiritual guidance (across many different faiths), bereavement counseling for family members, crisis intervention if necessary to help make your loved one feel comfortable and at ease, and much, much more.

This is why it’s so important to consider your loved one’s needs as a vital step in choosing the hospice care center that’s best equipped to help them. Don’t hesitate to contact the center to ask questions and find out more — hospice care is here to help and improve your loved one’s quality of life in any way that they possibly can.

Making Final Arrangements

This may be perhaps the most difficult part of the entire ordeal. There’s a certain “finality” to final arrangements that make them extraordinarily difficult. This is when you should talk with your loved one about their final wishes and what they’d like to have happen after they pass on.

Death is sad and it’s a difficult topic to talk about, to be sure. But that doesn’t mean that you have to do it alone. Our hospice care centers are conveniently located throughout California to provide you with the one-on-one support and guidance you need to help make the process easier on you and your loved ones.

We invite you to contact our California hospice care center today to learn more and to ask any questions you may have. We serve Los Angeles, Orange County and more, so it’s likely that there’s a True Care hospice near you. You don’t have to do it all alone, and you shouldn’t have to. Let our experienced counselors, social workers, medical staff and spiritual leaders help provide you the care, dedication and support you need in these difficult and troubling times so that your loved one can enjoy the dignity and care that they rightfully deserve.