Planning End of Life Care in Greater Gilford, NH
End of life care planning is not necessarily a fun thing to talk about, think about or start planning. This is why so many of us approach this milestone with little to no preparation or idea of how to react once we enter this position. According to several studies, roughly 70% of Americans say they hope to reach the end of their life in the comfort of home, surrounded by their loved ones. But more than two-thirds pass in hospitals or care facilities. One reason for this is that only a few of us create an end of life care plan.
Creating a plan has a positive impact on the end of life process. During the end of life cycle those who have planned often spend less time in hospitals and more time with family members enjoying their final moments together. It also frees up time for both individuals and family members so they can focus on what really matters.
Visiting Angels Helps Seniors in Gilford, Laconia, and Surrounding Areas Create a Plan for End of Life Care
Visiting Angels of Gilford works directly with families to help them create a custom end of life care plan that best fits the needs of your loved ones. We believe the end of life cycle for clients should be spent at home with family members sharing stories, memories, and enjoying each other’s company instead of in a hospital worrying about insurance and medical bills.
Think About What You Want
End of life care planning starts with careful consideration about how you want your final days and moments handled:
- What will your biggest priorities be?
- What kind of medical care do you want to receive?
- What kind of care do you not want to receive?
- When does your comfort become more important than attempting to extend your life?
At the same time, think about who you want to be caring for you during this time and making important decisions about your care:
- Will you have family taking care of you?
- Professional care staff?
- A mix of both?
- Who is a suitable choice for power of attorney?
Visiting Angels of Gilford provides in home care services that can aid family members both physically and emotionally during their end of life care cycle. However, we still recommend consulting your doctor and other family members to figure out the best way for your loved ones to proceed personally.
Develop Your Plan in Writing
Once you have thought through what you would like your plan to look like and have consulted with the people who matter most, you will need to develop the finer details of the plan and put it into writing. This way, there will not be any confusion or disputes if/when your plan needs to be implemented.
Some of the core parts of your plan should be:
- Advanced medical directives for healthcare professionals
- Whether or not to sign a DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) for specific circumstances
- Plans for how to handle professional caregiving if/when necessary
- Who will be appointed power of attorney?
How We Can Help
At Visiting Angels of Gilford, we realize that this is a difficult time for families to deal with and many are often overwhelmed with all the responsibilities and decisions that need to happen at this time. Our professional team of compassionate caregivers are here to assist however needed, whether it be physical assistance for your loved one around the house or providing emotional companionship through meaningful conversation and active listening.
We understand the needs of your loved one are unique, which is why we work directly with families to create a custom care plan tailor-fit around the specific needs of your loved ones. We can make sure that everything around the house is taken care of and your loved one is in good spirits so that when it is family time there is nothing else you need to be thinking about.
Contact Visiting Angels of Gilford for More Assistance
If you or an aging loved one need end of life care services to stay comfortable – contact Visiting Angels of Gilford today at 603-366-1993. We will be there for you every step of the way.