End of Life Care in Borehamwood and What To Expect
Our CareGivers deliver palliative care sensitively and with dignity.
- Borehamwood & Watford
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- Specialist Care
- End of Life Care
Supporting families in end of life care at home in Borehamwood & Watford
Our carers in Borehamwood work hard to fulfil end of life care requirements as sensitively as possible. We work hard to help your loved one to control pain and to keep them as comfortable as possible as they near the end of their life.
We stay with our clients to the end of their journey through life, with their trusted preferred CareGivers providing specialist palliative care and support for the whole family. With support from a regular Carer, family members can focus their energy on their loved one and on each other.
To see if Right at Home’s at home care services can help, get in touch with our office in Borehamwood today.
Christine M | Daughter of Client"The care my mum received from the team was excellent. All the carers got to know her well and were able to detect changes in her behaviour that indicated the onset of an infection. They quickly called for medical intervention and kept me informed. The communication from the care agency was excellent and they were never hesitant to help communicate with outside agencies."
Our end of life care at home services in Borehamwood & Watford
End of life care typically covers the last year of our Client’s life. Though some Clients require our support for varying lengths of time, and we make sure to be there for as long as they need.
We can provide round-the-clock companionship, personal care, monitoring and help with medication. Our CareGivers will visit you on multiple days a week, as agreed in your personalised care plan. We also offer live-in care and respite care for those who may need it.
Our CareGivers in Borehamwood are also experienced in supporting families in 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 and 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.
Speak to our Borehamwood 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 is a part of a palliative care plan. Our specialist care aimsto 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 broken down our end of life care, what to expect, and how you may want to prepare.
Palliative Care
People often ask us: ‘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 end of life care service. This service involves managing the physical aspects of a dying person’s condition, such as pain and other symptoms. Our ambition is always to make our Clients as comfortable as possible.
Physical Support
Our care workers 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 in the importance of quality of life. 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 specialists can direct you to resources for bereavement support and financial support.
To learn more about emotional support services in the Borehamwood community, take a look at the Hertfordshire NHS Foundation Trust website.
For information on how to prepare for care at home, visit our Information Hub.
FAQs about our end of life care services in Borehamwood & Watford
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 symptoms.
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 are the signs of 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’s important never to force someone to eat, as this may cause choking and discomfort. It can be comforting to give them ice chips or to wet their lips to keep them moist.
- They may withdraw
People often withdraw and don’t respond to others around them when they are nearing the end of life. They may be slow and 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, so it may be comforting for all involved to continue to talk to them even if they do not respond.
- There may be physical changes
You may begin to notice 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, get in touch with a member of our team in Borehamwood 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 knowledgeable team at Right at Home Borehamwood for help and support.
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