Four Things to Do After Your Senior Gets Bad Health News
No one likes getting bad news, especially about an elderly family member’s health. It’s what you do after you get that news that really matters.
Avoid Hiding from What’s Happening
Hiding from a scary diagnosis or from bad health news doesn’t make it go away. It would be great if that did work, but usually all it does is make the situation much worse. It’s much more important right now for everyone involved to be willing to face this situation as head-on as possible, when it’s most necessary. That doesn’t mean that you or she can’t try to forget for a few minutes here and there. But it does mean that denial isn’t going to help.
Gather Some Information about What’s Happening
The more data you can gather, the better informed both you and your senior will be. You’ll have a better idea what kinds of questions to ask when you go back to her doctor. There may also be new tests or additional treatments that you want to discuss. There’s so much that you can learn on your own and also from talking to your senior’s medical team. Take advantage of all of the information you can.
Honor Your Senior’s Biggest Needs Right Now
What does your senior need most right now? Oddly enough, she might need you to distract her a bit from what’s going on. Again, denial isn’t the way to go, but distractions and experiencing the joy in life can all be really helpful. No one said you have to be doom and gloom all the time simply because your elderly family member got bad news. Take time to experience the good things when and where you can.
Don’t Wait to Get Some Extra Help
Whatever bad news your senior has gotten likely means that her health is worsening. That also probably means that life is going to get more complicated quickly for both of you. It’s best if you go ahead and get some extra help lined up now, before the situation becomes extreme. If you wait, you may feel as if you’re in over your head before you actually get help. That doesn’t do either you or your senior any good. Bringing in home health care providers now helps you to get some new routines established.
It would be wonderful if there were a way to avoid bad health news, but it’s just not something anyone can predict with complete accuracy. What you can do is to be as supportive as possible for your senior when that time does come.
If you or a senior family member are considering hiring Home Health Care Services in Midland Park NJ, please contact the caring staff at Caring Solutions Home Care LLC. In-home senior care servicing Bergen & Passaic Counties. Call today at (973) 427-3553.
- What Does Elder Care Do For Seniors? - October 4, 2024
- How Seniors Can Wake Up Without an Alarm - September 18, 2024
- Nail Care is an Important Healthy Habit - September 6, 2024