Caring for a Loved One

Supporting someone you love, day to day through the end stage of life, can be an incredibly exhausting and challenging experience, but can equally be exceptionally rewarding, as a true expression of love and humanity.

When someone close to you finds out they have a life limiting condition, there will be so many unknowns and questions, but there will also be things you do know. By starting to make a plan, even if it means some very small next steps, you can support your loved one through what is often an incredibly sad and challenging transition. By making a plan together, it gives you an opportunity to talk about what you both want and need. 

Taking care of yourself will mean you can better care for your loved one and handle the sometimes extreme physical and emotional demands of caregiving. If you are the main carer, you will need to consider your capacity for caring among the many other demands of life, including work, children and other family. Part of caring for yourself and ensuring you are able to meet the demands of caregiving is to consider who else could support you, to allow you to have a break.