Bone marrow cancer may result in extended hospital stays and a diminished quality of life. If your father has been given a grave prognosis and his doctors have concluded that treatment is not going to work to cure him, you are probably ready to reunite with your loved one so that you can spend as much time with him as possible. Hospice care includes making a patient comfortable, administering pain medication, and providing a family with much-needed support.
What Is Going To Happen?
If you are concerned about the abrupt manner in which your father may leave this world or the possibility of him suffering further by not remaining in a hospital setting, speak to his team of doctors. Your father's health may be steadily declining, but if you have some information about what to expect when his death is nearing, you will be able to come to terms with the inevitable and make the most of the days that remain with him by your side.
Although a medical setting may seem more appropriate, hospice care is equally beneficial. A trained nursing aide will be assigned to look after your dad and will make sure that he is not in a great deal of pain. The aide will assist with feeding your loved one, administering medication, and observing any changes in his condition.
You will be provided with daily updates, which can be comforting during this troubling time. Although the aide will be assisting with your dad's care, there will be plenty of time for you and your father to spend time together, without any interference.
Where Will Your Dad Stay And How Will Others Cope?
Your dad can come live with you or the home of a family member. Choose a location where your dad will feel content and that will be quiet enough for him to get the rest that he needs. If you choose your home, you may want to set a bed up inside of your living room or den.
If your dad is still able to walk around some or if he enjoys being pushed around in his wheelchair, a ground level room will make it easier for your father to maintain some of his independence. Take advantage of every opportunity to spend time with your loved one and invite other family members over to your home, as long as your father is feeling well enough to visit with them.
If you or your other family members are having difficulty with the disease and the fact that the illness is terminal, speaking to the hospice worker can be helpful. Open up to the aide and let them know what you are fearing. Be supportive of your family members and encourage them to vocalize their concerns.
Share2 October 2019
When my mother fell at home and broke her hip, we all thought that we were going to have no choice to put her in a nursing home when she got out of the hospital. My mother had always asked us kids to avoid putting her in any kind of home, but we didn’t know what else we could do. None of us were capable of giving her the kind of rehabilitation and care that she needed. Then her doctor suggested that we find out if her insurance covered in-home care. I didn’t even know that that was an option. I was pleased to discover that in-home care was covered by her plan. Now she gets great care from nurses and nurse assistants that come right to her in her home, where she wants to be. It’s a great option, and I’m so glad we have it.
