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When an older loved one is diagnosed with a life-altering illness, moving forward can be difficult. You need to grapple with your own emotional response while staying strong for your aging parent or grandparent, especially if they haven’t fully grasped their condition and what comes next. Needless to say, it can all be very overwhelming.
Comforting them and helping them understand their illness is one thing. However, you also need to be ready to support them in the more practical day-to-day things as they navigate treatment, manage symptoms, and adjust to certain limitations, especially now that they’re old and can’t do everything by themselves. If you’re anxious to help your elderly loved ones in any way you can during these trying times, here are some tips for how to support them after a life-changing diagnosis.
Organize Medical Documents for Them
Older people aren’t the best at figuring out medical paperwork, from test results to prescriptions, especially now that you can fill up forms and do everything online. Carve some time out of your day to help organize these important documents so your senior loved one doesn’t have to worry about it.
For physical documents and results, put together a dedicated binder that your loved one can easily access and look through, even when you’re not around. It also makes it easier to sift through them and hand them to the doctor during in-person check-ups.
Find a Caregiver
It can be difficult and draining to balance caring for seniors and younger family members, especially if you’re raising kids. If you want to ensure that your elderly loved one has support all the time, even when you’re busy, it might be best to hire a caregiver. Look for someone you trust and with whom your parent or grandparent feels comfortable with. It’s best to hire someone with experience caring for a senior with the same medical condition as your loved one.
Create a Care Plan
Make sure your loved one’s caregiver knows exactly what to do to care for them by providing a detailed care plan. This should include details like a summary of their diagnosis, medications they need to take daily, preferred morning and night routine, emergency procedures, and more. This provides clarity and structure to everyone involved in your loved one’s care, which helps reduce stress and avoid confusion in the long run.
Know Their Rights If the Illness Was Caused by Negligence
Some critical illnesses, like mesothelioma, are caused by exposure to dangerous substances like asbestos. Most of the time, this illness develops because of workplace negligence by a former employer and is not the victim’s fault.
It’s important to know that your loved one may have legal rights in situations like these. A qualified asbestos attorney can help lighten the load for you so you can focus on what matters most: caring for your elderly loved one.
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with mesothelioma? Legal help is always available to guide you through your options and get you the compensation you deserve. Contact an experienced lawyer and start your path to justice as soon as possible.
Endnote
It’s never easy hearing a difficult diagnosis, especially if it involves an elderly loved one who needs extra care and support. However, with these tips, you can be there for them and support them through their condition in the ways they need the most help. Whether it’s by organizing documents, arranging for the best caregiver, or advocating for their rights, you can take a lot of the burden off their shoulders and make them feel loved and supported, and that’s exactly what they need during this time.
