What Are Your Parent’s Cancer Treatment Goals?
As soon as you hear that your aging parent is living with cancer, your mind likely goes to treatment. Getting the type of treatment that is right for them is a critical element of coping with this illness in the best way possible while preserving their quality of life, even if that means not seeking treatment at all.
When you start discussing the possibility of treatment with your parent, one of the most important things that you should think about is why your parent might pursue treatment. Talking about their goals for treatment can help to clarify this issue and guide them toward the decisions that are truly right for them as an individual and for the type of cancer that they are suffering.
Senior Care in Islip NY: Senior Cancer Treatment Goals
Some of the potential cancer treatment goals that you should consider with your parent when discussing moving forward with the management of their illness include:
• Eliminating their cancer
• Achieving a longer life even if they do not eradicate their cancer
• Experiencing fewer of the unpleasant symptoms of their form of cancer
• Maintaining their physical well-being and functioning as much as possible
• Maintaining their mental and emotional health and well-being as much as possible
• Experiencing quality of life throughout this chapter in their lives
When talking about treatment options for your parent, it is very important to remember that this is a personal decision that should be based not just on what the doctor says, but on your parent as an individual. Treatment goals for a senior are likely to be different from those of a younger person, but there are also variances among seniors as well. A very active and otherwise healthy senior, for example, is likely to have different treatment goals and pursue different treatment options than an older senior who is dealing with several health challenges and complications and is already suffering a lower quality of life.
How can elder care services help?
Starting elderly care for your senior may be one of the best decisions that you can make for your senior throughout the course of your caregiver journey with them. An elderly home care services provider can be there with your parent on a customized schedule to ensure that they get the support, care, and assistance that is right for them while also keeping you as the primary force behind their care.
A set of highly personalized services are tailored specifically to your parent’s needs, challenges, and limitations, and designed around the goal of helping your parent to stay healthy, happy, comfortable, and safe while maintaining as much independence and fulfillment as they age in place. If they are going through a challenging journey, such as dealing with cancer, you can feel confident that the care of an elderly care provider can help them through it in meaningful and beneficial ways. This can include helping them to stay physically active, providing emotional support and companionship, and giving reminders to help them stay compliant with their medications and treatments.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering senior care in Islip, NY, please contact the caring staff at Family First Home Companions.
Serving all of Long Island. Call today: (631) 319-3961
Source:
http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/older-adults/aging-and-cancer
https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics/all-cancer-facts-figures/cancer-facts-figures-2017.html
https://www.ons.org/sites/default/files/publication_pdfs/Evidence%20Based%20Practice_Older_Adult_CHAPTER_1.pdf
Jennifer has specialized training in Alzheimer’s disease through the Long Island Alzheimer’s Association and the Long Island Alzheimer’s Foundation.She also volunteered her time with the Alzheimer's Disease Assistance Center of Long Island for 3 years by providing cognitive stimulation to an Alzheimer’s patient group.
Jennifer educates the community about elder care and speaks to caregiver support groups, senior centers, and at professional organizations.Topics include home safety, effective strategies for family caregiving, elder care planning, and awareness about elder abuse.
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