One of the hardest things you’ll ever have to do is plan the end-of-life care of a family member. There’s so much to deal with, from caring for your loved one to grieving and estate planning. Even though death is a part of life, you’re never prepared for it until preparation becomes necessary.

 

During this heavy time, your priorities need to be on making your loved one comfortable and handling their personal affairs. End-of-life planning is no picnic, but here are some tips to assist you through this painful phase of life.

 

Be Patient When Seeking The Best Care

 

The most important part of planning for a dying person is making sure that they are as comfortable as possible. Depending on their condition, they may be dealing with issues such as severe pain, respiratory issues, and dementia. 

 

For your loved one to have the best possible quality of life, it’s crucial that you get them the right type of care. Some of the most trusted end-of-life care options are hospice, palliative care, and nursing homes.

 

Hospice care is an option available to people who have been given six or fewer months to live. Services include palliative care, helping the patient and his or her family to manage their grief, and providing equipment for home care. 

 

Palliative care is similar to hospice care in that it can be given in the patient’s home, in a hospital, or another medical facility. Palliative care is aimed at managing your loved one’s pain and keeping them comfortable, but they needn’t be given six months to live. They can even be receiving treatment aimed at saving their life or slowing the progression of the disease.

 

Nursing homes are like live-in hospitals for elderly and disabled people, and most nursing home residents are there for life. Nursing homes have doctors and nurses on staff to deal with medical issues, and many of them plan activities for their patients’ enrichment. 

 

Be Reasonable When Paying For Care

 

After getting your family member the right type of care, your next priority is figuring out how to pay for it. Like all forms of healthcare, end-of-life care is costly. Even if your parents have medicare, it may not be enough to cover all of their expenses. 

 

Life insurance policies have equity. A viatical settlement company like American Life Fund will purchase the life insurance policy of your terminally-ill loved one for a lump sum. Paying bills and covering the cost of end-of-life care is taxing on your bank account. A viatical settlement will give you the money you need to get the proper care and manage your financial obligations.

 

If your family member is a homeowner, then he or she can get a reverse mortgage on their home. Your loved one will receive a loan determined by the value of their home, and payment isn’t due until he or she dies or sells the home. 

 

Learn To Better Cope With Death

 

Death is one of the few sureties in life, but it’s still the hardest thing that most people ever deal with. Couple that with the pressures of living in New York City, and that’s a lot to put on anyone’s plate.

 

It’s crucial to your peace of mind that you find a balance between your family, caring for your dying loved one, and your career. If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed with anxiety or depression, then seek professional care. 

 

Check out the Therapy Group of NYC at nyctherapy.com to learn about the services they provide. They are a collection of well-trained therapists who get what it’s like to deal with life and living in the Big Apple. Dealing with your own stress will allow you to be there for your dying family member in their time of need.

 

It’s impossible to be fully prepared to say goodbye to someone you love. You’d much rather be able to restore his or her health than have to plan end-of-life care, but that’s not an option. What you can do is be there for your family members—your love and presence are the best gifts you have to offer.