Terminal Care At Home

"A guide for carers caring for a person who has a life limiting illness at home"--Provided by publisher.

In our society, the overwhelming majority of people die in later life. They typically die slowly of chronic diseases, with multiple co-existing problems over long periods of time. They spend the majority of their final years at home, but many will die in hospitals or care homes. This book explores the possibilities for improving the care of older people dying in residential care and nursing homes. It argues that there are aspects of palliative care that, given the right circumstances, are transferable to dying people in settings that are not domestic or hospice based. End of Life in Care Homes describes what happens in nursing and residential care homes when a resident is dying, how carers cope, and the practical, health and emotional challenges that carers face on top of their day-to-day work. Based on detailed research from both the UK and US, the book shows how the situation can be improved.

Most people, if given the opportunity, would choose to die at home rather than in the alien environment of a hospital. But many who do stay home to die suffer unnecessarily. This helpful professional guide is intended to improve the comfort of those dying at home and to increase the proportion of those able to do so. The contributors address the problems of poor communication and inadequate support services, explain what family members can do to help control symptoms, and discuss the kinds of cases which can be treated at home

My story encapsulates my personal journey with my parents, both the uplifting and the heartbreaking, following their respective latter stage terminal cancer diagnosis. "I was standing beside my mother when her doctor spoke the words." "In the car while driving back, I reached out and held my mother's hand. There was a surreal calm and silence. What do you say?" "and he told me 'the time is coming very soon.' I said, ' I know.' " "This was one of those 'biggies, ' which I had not anticipated or foreseen." "All I wanted was to know about someone's, anyone's, personal experiences during this enormously sad time, someone like you and me." Susanne Gallant is a passionate advocate for palliative care, especially in-home. She wrote this book to help prepare those overwhelmed following a loved one's latter stage terminal diagnosis. This, the author's first published book, was precipitated by her intense year-and-a-half involvement as one of the family caregivers for her terminally ill parents.She enjoys spending most of her time, along with her husband and little Papillon dog, at her home in Prince Edward County, Ontario (especially when their grown children, grandchildren, family and friends come to visit).www.ifonlybutforonemoremoment.com

Originally published as a series of articles in Missouri medicine.