Dr. Eboni Green
October 10, 2022
As family caregivers to our parents, we face countless challenges every day. There unfortunately comes a time when we have to say goodbye to our elders. Many of us want to avoid thinking about this sad inevitability of life at all costs. However, when you learn how to prepare for the death of a parent, you can help yourself and your loved ones better navigate the difficult times to come.
Palliative care and hospice care are two options you should investigate to help your parent feel as comfortable as possible as they age. Let’s take a closer look at each to know which is more applicable to your elder.
According to the National Institute of Aging, a parent can receive palliative care when “living with a serious illness, such as cancer or heart failure.” Your elder can acquire this help right at home, and it can help them feel comfortable many years before their death. While palliative care helps manage symptoms, it also keeps the door open for treatment options that may lead to a cure. Check with your parent’s insurance or Medicare to see if they are eligible for palliative care.
Unlike palliative care, hospice care focuses on providing your family member with comfort during the final stages of their life and doesn’t seek to cure their illness. Doctors recommend hospice care for patients with a prognosis of six months or less to live. Hospice care can also take place at home to help keep your loved one comfortable. If circumstances change, your loved one can stop hospice care to pursue other treatments and consider it again when the time comes.
Learning about your parent’s final wishes helps you both. Discuss funeral arrangements and figure out how they want you to honor them in death. The difficult nature of this topic may mean it occurs over the course of several conversations, but knowing your parent’s wishes can provide a small degree of comfort.
Also, do what you can to ensure finances are in order by:
If you have children, they will process the inevitable loss differently than you. While your elder is still with you, prepare yourself by learning how to talk to kids about the death of a loved one. It’s beneficial to be as transparent as possible when navigating this difficult topic. Aim to talk about the death of their grandparent honestly while using language that suits your child’s age.
While learning how to prepare for the death of a parent comes with many difficulties, the preparation allows you to have plans in place. These plans help your elder be more comfortable at home and assist you when your loved one is gone.
