Being diagnosed with lung cancer might be a shock for your senior, especially if she didn’t realize that she was facing a major health challenge. It’s important to learn as much as you can about lung cancer, and November being national Lung Cancer Awareness Month makes it easier to do that.
Develop a Care Plan and Follow it as Closely as Possible
Your senior’s doctors and other specialists will help you to develop a care plan for her as she deals with her diagnosis. It’s important that once your elderly family member has a care plan that she follows it as closely as possible. No one can do that perfectly, but what you’re aiming for is to do the best you all can to adhere to those recommendations. On the other hand, deviating occasionally can bring joy to your senior’s life, too.
Having Routines and Things to Look Forward to Helps
Regular daily and weekly routines give your senior’s life a framework that’s easy for her to follow. This can be especially important when she’s feeling discouraged or lost, because those routines aren’t something she likely has to think about too closely. It also really helps if you can find ways to help your senior to look forward to something exciting or interesting. Even if that “something interesting” is small, having something to look forward to keeps her moving in that direction.
Try to Stay Positive
It’s so difficult when someone you love is battling a serious and possibly debilitating illness. There’s a lot going on and a lot that has to be managed. One of the only things in your control is your own attitude about the situation. If you can at all, try to stay as positive as you can. That doesn’t mean ignoring reality, but it does mean refusing to dwell on the negative aspects of what’s going on.
Put One Foot in Front of the Other
Another difficult thing to do is to just keep putting one foot in front of the other. No matter how upsetting this is, laundry still has to get done and groceries still need to become meals. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. Bringing in elderly care providers is a huge way to get the help that you and your senior need and to be able to still take some time to give yourself what you need in terms of rest and being kind to yourself.
There are a lot of things that are likely to change for your senior as she faces lung cancer, but together you’ll learn what she needs and how to help her best.
If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Bradenton Beach, FL, please contact the caring staff at Home Helpers of Bradenton. Call today: (941) 499-5946.
