By Pamela Godoy
When a loved one is in the twilight of life, we should offer that person the minimum or ordinary care necessary for their wellbeing. That includes nutrition, hydration, cleansing, and mobility. Nevertheless, not only the physical situation should be considered, but also the psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects.
When the benefits derived from providing a treatment, medicine or therapy, making a procedure, and so on, are greater than the damages that they could provoke, we’re referring to proportionate means. Following, general guidelines will be mentioned assuming them as proportionate means. Nevertheless, it is important to consult a doctor and not take this article as a final recommendation.
To begin with, it is of extreme importance to keep on feeding someone who is sick or old. One should not stop providing food even if it’s in small quantities or using a catheter.The person who is bedridden still needs nutrients for his body to recover. In line with that, one should not remove hydration. Let’s remember that our body is mainly made of water (i.e. around 60%). Not providing food or water when the person’s body is able to receive and process it would be killing that person of starvation or dehydration.
Additionally, this person should be cleansed on a daily basis (and for sure even with more frequency). That means that people should be cleansed after they urinate or defecate. They should also be able to take a shower or at least have someone give them a sponge bath.
Finally, if the person is lying in bed without being able to move, his caregiver should constantly change this person’s position. This is to avoid the patient’s skin getting sore and being infected. Besides that, constant mobility might also help avoiding fatigue for remaining in the same position for long hours.
As was previously mentioned, palliative care doesn’t only include the physical aspects. It also considers the psychological, emotional, and spiritual support that the patient might need. This means that this person should be surrounded by his loved ones and a team of experts who provide their professional services to this person. This support could be psychological therapies or visits from priests who will confess the person, give them the Eucharist or the anointing of the sick.
Finally, don’t disregard the importance of simply being with your loved one who is in his last days, for his heart might be fulfilled simply by having you around, having deep conversations, or enjoying some hugs and smiles. This is what a dignified death really looks like.
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