Take some time to think about your elderly loved one and their health for a moment. Do they have various health issues that could put them in the hospital? Are they weaker than they were 5 years ago? Depending on your elderly loved one’s state of health at this time, you may want to start discussing their wishes. There are many wishes that many elderly people have that they never get around to discussing with their family. This is why you may want to take it upon yourself to have these conversations with your elderly loved one.
Decision Making
Oftentimes, there are family members who argue about their elderly loved one’s care. It might be best if you talk to your elderly loved one now about who they want to make decisions for them if they are unable to do so on their own. This should be put into writing so that everyone knows who will be responsible for decision-making on behalf of your elderly loved one. It might be helpful to note that someone or multiple people should be designated to make decisions for your elderly loved one’s finances, medical needs, and other aspects of their life.
Type of Care
You should also discuss what type of care your elderly loved one is going to want. For instance, if they have a heart attack or other health issues and need extra care, do they want you or another family member taking care of them? Would they rather have home care providers taking care of them instead of family members? If possible, it is best to accommodate your elderly loved one’s wishes about the type of care they are going to want if something happens to them.
End-of-Life Care
Another thing that should be discussed with your elderly loved one is their end-of-life care. While nobody really wants to have this discussion, it is very important. Who would your elderly loved one want around them if they are at the end of life? Are there certain things that your elderly loved one wants to have happen near the end of their life? Would your elderly loved one want to put a DNR in place? What type of comfort measures are important to them at the end of their life? These are all things that should be discussed with your elderly loved one before they get to that point.
Conclusion
These are some of the wishes that you should discuss with your elderly loved one. It is important to have these talks before anything happens. You don’t have to talk to your elderly loved one about all these things at once. It can be discussed over multiple conversations, even over the course of months. Just do your best not to wait too long to talk to your elderly loved one about these things, as nobody ever knows what the future is going to hold.
Sources
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/advance-care-planning-health-care-directives
https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/talking-older-patients-about-sensitive-topics
IF YOU OR AN AGING LOVED ONE IS CONSIDERING HOME CARE IN PALMETTO, FL, PLEASE CONTACT THE CARING STAFF AT HOME HELPERS OF BRADENTON. CALL TODAY: (941) 499-5946
