Coping with a Family Member Going Into Palliative Care
The thought of a family member or friend going into palliative care is an event for which no preparation can overcome the grief and loss that will be experienced. For those who are facing this situation, it is important to build a community of support to help you cope. For those who have cared for a loved one before palliative care became necessary, the stress and sense of loss may feel overwhelming at times.
Self-Care for Carers
Proper self-care for those who are caring loved ones that are entering palliative care means building up the coping mechanisms necessary to ease the transition and put life into proper perspective. It’s all too easy for carers to get so involved with their loved one that they fail to take care of themselves. Providing the proper self-care includes, but is not limited to the following;
- Time away from the family member needing care
- Eating right, exercising, and maintaining outside interests
- Engaging with friends and family regularly
- Acting on signs of depression, anxiety, and related issues early
You cannot take care of others unless you also take care of yourself. While caregiving can be a full-time job, that doesn’t mean all your effort and energy goes into it.
Building Support Mechanisms to Cope with the Grief
Even with the best self-care, those who provide support for a dying loved one will need to construct mechanisms to help them cope with the grief and sense of loss. This means going to friends and family, expressing your concerns, and dealing with it in a healthy way. Everyone grieves differently, but everyone also needs support during this trying time in their lives.
Why Counselling Can be Useful
There are times in which counselling by a professional can be most helpful. Providing an outside source that has the expertise to help you identify and cope with issues that may have been building up as you care for your family member. The counselling can help you identify certain issues, provide a different perspective, and provide a roadmap to celebrate the life of the person you are caring for and not dwell on their death.
There are no easy answers, but there are pathways towards transitioning from caregiving to saying goodbye to the family member when they enter palliative care. By having a support system in place, understanding the stresses that you are experiencing, identifying issues you may be undergoing, and getting help from counselling all combine to help you cope with a family member who is reaching the end of their life.
In 2019, Palliative Care Week starts on May 20th and runs through the 26th. During this week, you can find more information about how to care for a loved one who is dying. While nothing can alleviate the loss and grief associated with the death of someone close to you. There are ways in which you can celebrate their life with family and friends which can provide some comfort during this tragic time.
