How much is too much?
If you’re reading this, there’s probably someone in your life you think might be ready for end-of-life care, if they’re not already receiving support from Centrica Care Navigators. It probably took you a little while to come to that conclusion, because it can be tough to tell when something isn’t quite right.
Everyone stumbles now and again, but when a person falls down repeatedly in a short period of time, or falls down so hard they hurt themselves, it’s an indication that something needs to change. Too much difficulty with basic tasks means it’s time to think about appropriate care.
We’ve found the following list to be a useful tool for many people in our community. It describes some of the most common signs that a person might be ready for end-of-life care. If someone you care about is experiencing one or more of these conditions, please reach out to us at Centrica Care Navigators for a free assessment and some valuable information on your possible next step.
Frequent hospitalizations or emergency room visits
One situation that Centrica Hospice Care helps avoid is regular stops at the hospital for someone who is already sick or feeling weak. Constant trips to the emergency room are time-consuming and expensive, but more importantly they are stressful for the sick person, and those around them.
From the moment you first contact Centrica Care Navigators, you’ve got a team supporting you and your loved one’s needs. Their expert advice will help keep the hospital visits to only what is necessary.
An increase in falls
Someone in need of end-of-life care isn’t occasionally tripping over an uneven sidewalk. This is more like falling when crossing a room, or having difficulty standing up without assistance.
Many patients spend most of their time sitting or lying in bed, but when they do have to move (for example, to get to a table for a meal or to use the toilet), those who are ready for end-of-life care will need the additional support of their loved ones and Centrica Care Navigators.
More assistance needed for basic activities
The activities of daily living (ADL) are some of the most fundamental things that people do every day:
· Ambulating (walking, sitting, standing, etc.)
· Grooming (brushing teeth, bathing, etc.)
· Toileting (controlling your bodily functions and properly using the toilet)
· Dressing (putting on and taking off clothing)
· Eating (using utensils and feeding yourself)
Pretty simple tasks, right? Not necessarily, for someone in end-of-life care. If you’re regularly helping someone with these activities, and it’s clear they can’t do them for themselves, it’s time to take a look at the support you receive from hospice care.
Centrica Care Navigators hospice aides and nurses can give you guidance on the best ways to help the people you care about with these activities. And since you can’t always be there to help someone with their meals or to comb their hair, you can look to Centrica Care Navigators volunteers and others for additional support, giving you the time you need to get things done.
Unexplained, significant weight loss
Eating well and regular exercise can keep anyone in good shape, but the kind of “significant” weight loss that someone who might need hospice care has makes them look dramatically different. A good guideline is a loss of more than 10% of body weight over the past 6 months.
The Centers for Disease Control says the average weight of an American man age 60 or older is about 200 pounds; for that average person, losing 20 pounds in just a few months is an indication that something more than diet and exercise might be a factor in the person’s health.
Many medication changes
As someone’s symptoms change over time, the medication they may need to help with those symptoms changes too. If you notice that medication keeps changing frequently, there may be more serious health issues that need medical attention, and it might be time to call a doctor for an expert opinion.
Continued overall health decline
When people call Centrica Care Navigators to learn more about hospice care, or because they have noticed some of these signs of decline, our team is able to explain that, for some patients, hospice isn’t appropriate yet — but palliative care might be.
It’s for people who have a serious illness but have not been diagnosed with 6 months or fewer to live. It comes with the same expert care as our hospice patients receive: the right kind of care for each patient.
If you see any of these signs of decline in your loved one, you know what to do to take the best next step. Give us a call, so we can help you give them the care they need.
You can learn more by exploring our website or calling Centrica Care Navigators at 269.345.0273.
