Death is a topic that none of us like to talk about, but it is one of those things that’s inevitable in life and at some point we will all have to face it. As it stands, almost five million people say they are too uncomfortable to talk about their own death at all, but there are another 13 million UK adults who admit that while it made them uncomfortable, they were willing to talk. This is just one step to making those days later in life slightly easier for not only yourself, but those around you.
Another factor that can help you to feel more at peace is taking into consideration where you die. Around 500,000 people die in England each year, with 50% of these currently dying in hospital, despite research from Dying Matters showing that around 70% of people would prefer to die at home.
For those that would prefer to die in the comfort of their own homes, palliative care is where the support lies. Although this may not carry the same medical treatment that’s connected to a hospital stay, this form of care provides relief from symptoms, pain and stress in a familiar environment.
It could simply be said that with palliative care we are focusing on the quality of life rather than the quantity. But in some cases, this type of care can also help to improve the length of time an individual can live for as they are much happier than they possibly would be in a hospital.
Traditionally when we talked about palliative care we would be referring to the last few weeks or even days of a person’s life. However, times are changing, and we are starting to see people take on this kind of care earlier in their illness to further help improve their quality of life. Simply by undertaking fun activities, such as arts and crafts or even relaxing with friends and having nice lunches are great ways to help you to enjoy the time you have left, and even potentially prolong it!
At Unique Senior Care we go above and beyond to ensure each of our clients has the finest experience during their care, and we strive to help you have the best quality of life possible. If you would like to find out more about our palliative care services, please get in touch with a member of our friendly, expert team today.
