Take guidance from your own experience with the person since you know them best – be their advocate. Be there if possible, chatting, laughing to ease tension and bring you closer together. Silence can also be a powerful way of communicating when words can't be found.
Our nurses will be glad to help by demonstrating physical care.
- Longer sleeping periods
- Will commonly have reduced or absent hunger and/or thirst
- For some persons, confusion and restlessness can occur
- Breathing changes
- Irregular heartbeat
- Loss of bowel or bladder control or constipation
- Chest Congestion
- Skin color and temperature changes
- Muscle twitching
- Eyes may become dry and lose their ability to focus
- Elevated temperature is common
- Pain which requires symptom management as stated or by visibly noticing agitation or furrowed brow.
These are changes that nurses anticipate and know how to intervene with comfort measures: for example, oral care, bed bath, incontinence care, positioning, skin care, sips of fluids if they can swallow, monitoring vital signs, eye care, safety measures if agitation is an issue.
Talk about ordinary things that are going on in your life, happy memories, say thank you, I love you, I'm sorry, then be quiet, forgive me, if you wish. Listen attentively.
Be kind to yourself so you can be there fully when you are able. It's ok to make some boundaries and accept that you are not perfect.
Fear of saying the wrong thing, fear of breaking down and crying, fear of the unknown.
