Guide to Caregiving in the Final Months of Life

When does dying begin? When family members of the seriously ill find themselves in an acute care setting or even struggling to care for someone at home, this question is rarely adequately answered.This essential booklet written by a hospice nurse will answer all your questions about care in the final year of life. Guide to Caregiving in the Final Months of Life is the first book of its kind designed to help the reader identify when dying actually begins. The book is written in easy to understand language, helping the reader to break down and digest complex medical information. It paints a picture of what a downhill trajectory looks like and why it is usually not reversible. It reviews common medical symptoms such as weight loss, progressive weakness and confusion and why these events may be indicators of increased mortality. It also reviews illnesses commonly experienced by the elderly such as aspiration pneumonia, sepsis and organ failure and why further decline can be expected in their aftermath. It provides specific examples of patients and cites resources that are available to assist the family in making difficult decisions such as hospital ethics committees, chaplaincy services and the Alzheimer s Association. Finally, the book walks the reader through the process of caring for someone who is actively dying offering practical tips to caregivers on pain management, skin care, loss of bowel and bladder control and how to communicate with their loved one. It answers the most common questions about caregiving for families and will greatly enrich their experience while reducing their anxiety.