’Tis the season to help families address end-of-life care
The holiday season will soon be upon us and with it will come out-of-town family members visiting their loved ones in long-term care settings.
Early November is a good time to increase the focus and training on customer service so that the facility is performing at its best when those infrequent but important guests arrive. It’s also a suitable moment to consider how to best aid families in discussing end-of-life care for their aging relatives.
Visitors who haven’t seen loved ones in several months may notice a physical or cognitive decline, making them more aware that life’s end is approaching. The holidays are also a time when several family members may be together and can discuss end-of-life concerns in collaboration.
While many residents will have completed advance directives upon admission, there are others who haven’t done so and those whose desires have changed. In addition, there are other details that may need addressing, such as readiness for hospice care, funeral arrangements, a last effort to repair fractured relationships or a chance to say good-bye.
Families invariably need assistance with these conversations and, as those who provide care to the ill and dying, this is a good opportunity to showcase the organization’s compassion and expertise in this area.