Caring for loved one at home

My sister died at home bowel cancer went to her brain...palliative care nurses came every day and between her husband,me and my parents we coped.She had a catheter in when she no longer could get out of bed and we were shown how to empty it,when pills no longer helped the pain a morphine drive was used so she wasn't in pain at all.Youll be surprised at what you can do when you have to do it.My sister died peacefully surrounded by her husband,daughters ,mum and dad and me her sister.

Thank you for replying and sharing your experience RedTree26 it has helped me. You sound like a lovely family. Best wishes.x

I looked after my father at home until he died. He had metastatic prostate cancer that had spread to his bones. He was offered a place in a hospice but really wanted to stay at home. My mum had Alzheimer’s which was a factor, as a move to a hospice would have been hard for her to understand. Some family members were dubious and felt that he should be somewhere with 24/7 nursing care available, but my father’s GP was supportive of him being cared for at home. Carers came in twice a day and, for the last two weeks, he had a night-sitter as well. In the end, he just faded out, with a nurse coming in to give him morphine injections to keep the pain at bay. The GP was happy to call in if I rang the surgery with a problem, e.g. dad suffered a mild stroke a few days before he died & I didn’t know what was happening. I found caring for him manageable, though obviously very sad, and, looking back, I appreciated the opportunity to care for him at home. I don’t have any nursing experience but felt the support available was adequate in that respect. 

Hi Jane. I hope you are managjng as well as you ca. 

My husband died at home as was his wish. He actually went downhill very quickly at the end. I was his sole carer with the hospice coming in 4 times a day in the last few days. He also got CHC funding right at the end and night sitters who were a godsend as he died in the night and they just took complete charge for me. 

With support you can do it. Xx

Miranda t, thank you so much for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it.

Malengwa 

Thank you for sharing your experience with me, it is so appreciated.