As Dad’s end of life approached, we worked together as a family to keep Dad comfortable and safe. We had great support from Coral’s GP, Dad’s geriatrician, and Dad's amazing carer, Kath.
Those last days were an emotional rollercoaster but from them we have some very special memories. Dad kept surprising us, right up until he took his last breath.
This is our story of supporting Dad to die at home. We want you to know that how you choose to support a loved one as they approach their end of life is entirely your choice. Whatever you decide to do, it’s okay.
In this episode:
- The functional gains Dad made on transition care were short lived
- Dad started to decline again as he approached his end of life
- Coral moved Dad to palliation with the support of her GP and Dad’s geriatrician
- The changes that made us realise Dad was approaching his end of life
- The emotional rollercoaster of Dad’s last days
- Managing pain and keeping Dad comfortable
- Remembering the special stories
- Dad’s emotional connection to music
- When dad took his last breath
- How you choose to support a loved one at their end of life is very individual and whatever you do, it’s okay
Resources mentioned:
Related episodes:
- Episode 25 – Dad’s diagnosis of dementia
- Episode 27 – After Dad’s diagnosis of dementia
- Episode 28 – Bringing Dad home from hospital
Connect with Coral Wilkinson:
About Your Aged Care Compass Podcast:
Are you supporting an older loved one at home and ready to give up because it’s just too hard? Your Aged Care Compass is aimed at anyone who is caring for an older loved one who still lives at home and is wondering what support is available to them.
We're Coral and Michelle, the sisters behind our business, See Me Aged Care Navigators.
Coral is a registered nurse with over 30 years’ experience in both health and aged care. A former assessor with the aged care assessment team, an advocate and author, there’s not much Coral doesn’t know about Australia’s aged care system.
Michelle is a former pharmacist with over 30 years in the public health and private sectors of pharmacy. Michelle is now client care manager for our business.
Our story started as one of supporting our parents to remain in their own home, to be as independent as possible and remain connected to their community. We reached a point however, of needing extra support and we achieved this because we know Australia’s aged care system so well, we knew what programs could assist us and our parents.
This podcast, Your Aged Care Compass, brings together not only our personal experience in supporting our own ageing parents but also our vast professional experience in supporting other families to keep their loved ones at home.
We will help you makes sense of Australia’s aged care system, from your first contact with My Aged Care through to the different funding streams and assessment workforces, management options for home care packages and extra funding that people might be eligible for.
There's so much more. Topics relating to dementia and legal and financial considerations will be covered, as well as real life stories of where it went wrong for people and how we guided them to get it right.
Your Aged Care Compass will guide you clearly and compassionately to the right support at the right time for your ageing parents and loved ones.
Like what you hear? Please leave us a rating and review. We’d love you to share this podcast with any friends or family who have older loved ones.