End of Life Care in Bedford and What To Expect
Our CareGivers deliver palliative care sensitively and with dignity.
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Supporting families in end of life care at home in Bedford
At Right at Home Bedford we ensure that our end of life care at home is delivered sensitively and with dignity. We strive to help your loved one to control pain and to keep them as comfortable as possible as they near the end of their life.
Our regular Carers stay with our Clients to the end of their life, forming close bonds as well as providing specialist palliative care and support for the whole family. With support from a regular Carer, family members can focus their attention on their loved one and on each other.
To see if Right at Home’s at home care services in Bedford can help, speak to our office today.
F R | Daughter of Client"I am enormously grateful to Right at Home for their wonderful support and care of my elderly father in his last months. Dad was very fortunate to have such a fantastic team of carers who always impressed with their care, kindness and genuine love for their work."
Our end of life care at home services in Bedford
End of life care typically covers the last year of our Client’s life. Though, for some people, the length of time that they require our specialist care may vary and we make sure to be there for as long as they need.
Our services include:
- Companionship
- Personal care
- Monitoring and help with medication
Our team in Bedford will visit your home multiple days a week, as agreed in your personalised care plan. We also offer live-in care and respite care for those who need it.
Our CareGivers in Bedford are also experienced in supporting families through end of life care, by offering respite from daily tasks. During such a difficult time, even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. That’s why our CareGivers can also help with:
- Light housekeeping
- Laundry
- Meal preparation
At Right at Home, we work closely with hospices, GPs and community nurses. When it’s needed, we’ll help our Clients’ loved ones to access sources of emotional and practical support.
To find out more about services in the areas local to Bedford, take a look at the Council website.
Contact our Bedford Right at Home office today to discuss the care needs of you or your loved one.
What Is Included in End of Life Care?
End of life care forms part of a palliative care plan. Our specialist care aims to help our Clients to live as comfortably as possible for the remaining duration of their lives.
End of life care can sound daunting, so we’ve provided some further detail about our end of life care, what to expect, and how you may want to prepare.
Palliative Care
People are often unsure about: ‘what is the difference between palliative and end of life care?’ In fact, palliative care and end of life care are often used interchangeably.
The main difference is that palliative care can be given at any stage of a terminal illness and many people receive palliative symptom management for years.
Receiving palliative care is a big part of our specialist end of life care service. Our support services include managing the physical aspects of a dying person’s condition, such as pain and other symptoms. Our goal is always to make our Clients as comfortable as possible.
Physical Support
Our CareGivers in Bedford ensure that our Clients are clean and comfortable during the last days of life. We offer help with eating or drinking as well as personal care and even physical support when moving around the house.
We really believe that quality of life is important. So, beyond physical support, we help to maintain a comfortable environment, with light housekeeping and laundry services.
Emotional Support
Perhaps most importantly, our CareGivers are friends to our Clients and their loved ones. Our high quality care services centre on nurturing trusting relationships and providing support in difficult circumstances.
The benefits of end of life care span beyond our Clients alone as we help to provide support and respite for family members too. Importantly, our end of life care involves directing people to resources for bereavement support and financial support.
To learn more about emotional support services available locally to you, take a look at the Bedford Council website.
Or find out more about how to prepare for care at home in our Information Hub.
FAQs about our end of life care services in Bedford
When does end of life care begin?
In short, end of life care should begin when it is needed. It may last a few days, a few months or even a few years - it can vary depending on each Client’s unique situation.
End of life care is considered to be for those in the last 12 months of life, though of course it can be difficult to predict when someone is likely to pass. You may employ our end of life care services for only a short time. Or, you may require a longer-term care plan if your loved one:
- Has an advanced, incurable disease
- Is generally frail and have co-existing conditions
- Has an existing condition and is at risk from dying if they have a sudden crisis
- Has a life threatening acute condition caused by a sudden event, such as a stroke or an accident
What to look for near the end of life?
Knowing what to expect as someone passes can be a comfort for loved ones and family members.
- They may not want to eat or drink
When nearing the end of life, people may lose the desire to eat or drink. It can be comforting to give them ice chips or to wet their lips to keep them moist. On the whole, it’s important never to force someone to eat, as this may cause choking and discomfort.
- They may withdraw
Your loved one may withdraw and stop responding to others around them when they are nearing the end of life. They may be slow or seem confused. In some cases, our Clients may also present signs of delirium, such as hallucinations
We recognise that this can be worrying to see, so our trusted CareGivers will help to maintain a calm and supportive environment.
Most people nearing the end of their life are often able to hear, even if they cannot speak. It can be comforting for all involved to continue to talk to them even if they do not respond.
- There may be physical changes
There may also be a few physical changes that could indicate when someone is nearing the end of their life.
- They may feel tired or weak
- They may pass less urine and it will usually be dark in colour
- Their hands and feet may be cold and appear blotchy or blue
- They may have an irregular heartbeat
- Their blood pressure may decrease
- Their breathing may become irregular. This can be shallow breathing, with short periods of no breathing at all or rapid. deep breathing
If you’re concerned about any of these symptoms, speak to a member of our team in Bedford to discuss end of life care at home.
Information and resources on end of life care
You can find information and support relating to end-of-life care on the NHS website.
Their ‘End Of Life Care Guide’ explains what you can expect from end of life care and gives information about an individual’s rights and choices. The guide includes advice related to: refusing treatment, setting down their wishes for future treatment, and arranging to give someone the legal right to make decisions for them, if they are no longer capable.
The guide also contains information on discussing these issues with family members.
Our team is experienced in supporting families through end of life care, including the associated legal responsibilities. Speak to our expert team at Right at Home Bedford for help and support.
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