Saying 'Goodbye' to a terminally ill loved one with acceptance

 

How to say ‘Goodbye’ to a loved one with a terminal illness - SilverStone Hospice, Dallas, TX.

Dallas, United States - October 24, 2022 /SilverStone Hospice/

“Hospice is never about giving up hope; it is about expanding the quality of life, about exceptional medical care, and about love.” - Alfonso Montiel, volunteer CEO, SilverStone Hospice

Saying ‘Goodbye’ to a loved one is one of the hardest things in the universe. No matter how prepared one is for it, the finality of letting go forever is painful and overwhelming. The emotional pain and trauma that the caregiver and family member experiences are as palpable as the physical pain and trauma that the patient goes through. The time following a diagnosis of a terminal illness can be devastating in more ways than one - 

• Acceptance - by the patient as well as their family. The fact that life will end sooner than expected is a punch in the gut that can numb. Accepting and acknowledging the reality and taking positive steps to ease the situation is all important.
• Practicality - doing what it takes to make the patient comfortable is necessary. Assessing and understanding the patient’s needs and what the coming few months will entail with a clear mind will ease the transition for both the patient and the family.
• Care and Support - finding the right support and care for a terminally ill loved one. When the diagnosis is terminal with six months or less to live, it’s time to look for a hospice near me to provide the patient and the family with the best care and support till the end.

What is Hospice Care?

Hospice Care is for those who have received a terminal diagnosis and who choose to improve their quality of life rather than pursue curative treatments. It is a challenging decision that is not easily made. But the sooner it is taken, the better it is for the patient to live the last days of their life to the fullest with dignity. A hospice provides holistic care and support to the patient and their family, hand-holding them through the difficult months ahead.

SilverStone Hospice’s mission is to enable families to provide the best end-of-life care for their terminally ill loved ones. They are a “fiercely compassionate and vigilantly supportive” team with a desire to make the last days of the patient peaceful and comfortable. They also believe in helping the patient and the family come to terms with the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of letting a loved one go and how to confront death. 

Family and Bereavement Support and Respite Care

Watching a loved one die is not easy for their family. In addition to coping with the grief, handling medication, therapies, doctor visits, maintaining hygiene and care for the patient, and managing housework as well as a job is a tough task for the caregivers. There are times when the family needs a helping hand in coming to terms with the situation. SilverStone is a Dallas hospice dedicated to providing care, guidance, and support to families of terminally ill patients at such times. 

Volunteers will step in and take over when the caregiver needs a break or needs to travel or take care of other important work. A Chaplain and social worker are also a part of the team. The Chaplain will step in to fulfill the spiritual needs while the social worker will help with counseling and therapeutic relief for the family even after the transition and for as long as the family needs to get over their grief. 

Hospice is a holistic approach to death - making the end-of-life transition a happy and peaceful process. It does not mean giving up or losing hope. On the contrary, it is about hope and happiness and living life to the fullest - creating happy memories and making the most of the time at hand. Patients under hospice care have even been known to improve and move out of hospice with the loving care and all-around support they receive. If you have a loved one who is dealing with a terminal illness and are looking for hospice care in Dallas, contact SilverStone Hospice at (214) 954-7285.