The End Of The Road: What You Should Expect If Your Loved One Is Sent Home To Die

Whether it is related to a terminal illness or natural causes of aging, it is not at all uncommon for medical professionals to send a patient home to live out their final days. If medical needs will permit, most individuals and family members do prefer that the end of life can take place in the home where things are more comfortable. As simple as it may sound to just allow the natural course to ensue, dying at home is a bit more complicated than most people realize. If your loved one is sent home to die, there are some things that you should expect to take place.

Reinventing the Home Atmosphere

Most of the time, your loved one's arrival at home will mean that the home will become something more evolved that is capable of providing the right atmosphere for someone who is dying. In spite of the fact that the point is to make sure the loved one is comfortable at home, there will almost always be special medical care needs to be considered. The home may have to be changed to look more like a hospital care room or medical facility. A few of the most common implementations will include:

  • Hospital bed
  • Portable toilet
  • Shower Chair
  • Life supporting equipment, such as oxygen tanks or breathing machines
  • Heart monitoring equipment

Private Duty Nursing

If your loved one's medical condition is dwindling, do not be surprised if you are assigned a private duty nurse who will be in the home with you the majority of the time. This person will be the one who ensures the loved one is comfortable with their situation until the very end. Whether it is tending to IVs, providing medications, or just keeping an eye on vitals, the private duty nurse is one of the best ways to keep a close eye on the health of your loved one. This is not only beneficial from a medical standpoint, but for the caregivers because they can spend their time giving attention to the time they spend with their family member.

The final days you spend with your loved one can be some very precious moments filled with a lot of tears, memories, and friends and extended family visits. The changes that take place to allow a loved one to die at home are well worth the chance to make them comfortable and enjoy every last chance you have to prepare for the final goodbye that is coming. Contact professionals, such as T L C Home Health Care & Nursing Inc., with any further questions you might have.


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