Near the end of your senior’s life, she’s still there with you but you’re beginning to experience the sharp edges of grief. How you handle what you’re feeling is going to make a big difference for you, for her, and for other people you care about.

Make the Most of the Time That’s Left

Everybody only has a certain amount of time left and the time your senior has remaining might not be as much as anyone wants. So it’s incredibly important to make the most of whatever time is remaining for her and for you. Spend quality time together, even if that means you’re just together while she rests. It’s not as important what you do as it is that you’re there for her.

Put a Support System in Place

Both you and your senior will benefit from having a support system. This might consist of friends and family members who are able to help and to simply be there for emotional support. It can also consist of people in your lives who are able to offer hands-on practical help that you really need. At a certain stage, hospice care providers can be a tremendous help and can offer you help with tasks that may feel out of your area of experience.

Let Yourself Experience Your Emotions

This stage of your senior’s life is going to inspire certain emotions for you and for your other family members. There may be anger, frustration, grief, and much more. If you and others are trying to ignore these feelings or otherwise pretend that they’re not a factor, that’s going to make them a bigger problem. Dealing with your feelings appropriately means acknowledging them and honoring them. It might help you and other family members to have some sort of bereavement counseling, even before your senior passes away.

Give Yourself Time Away

As much as you need to be there for your senior and for other family members, it’s also important to have time that is just for you. This might mean that you leave your senior with hospice care providers and focus on just what you need. Many caregivers worry that this is selfish and that it’s not right to do this, but it can help you to be there when you truly need to be.

How you manage your grief will be different from how other people manage theirs and that’s okay. Try to avoid allowing yourself to feel guilty for trying to meet your needs during this difficult time.

If you or a loved one have questions about Elder Care in Trenton, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Serenity Hospice. Call today, we can help:  (609)-227-2400