Home Carers (domicillary)
 

I'm starting a new job doing home care. This includes palative care ( with terminally ill patients). I know I can do all the jobs but I don't know how I'll deal with death if I see it. Any home carers have any advice or how to prepare.

*Hugs*
Theres not much help I can really give... All I can say is that I imagine its going to be a really hard job and you must be an amazing person for doing it

My mum looks after old people so she has seen it alot. In some ways you have to be emotionally detached from the situation and not get too close to the people. Wehn it does happen you have to realise its just the cycle of life.

sorry i dont have much advise either

There's no real way you can prepare for it. When it happens you will probably feel differently to what you thought you would.

At work I see death on a day to day basis and you learn to just get on with things. As said above, it's a good idea to try not to get too close to the people and view your working life as work and separate it from your home life. I'm not saying you should act really shallow around the person and not care, just once you get home try to concentrate on things other than work. After a while, most of the time you will begin not to focus on the stuff that's happened whilst you're working so much.

Be prepared though for it to be harder at some times than others though, I have days where I can see straight past it and focus on the next patient whereas I have other ones which are harder to deal with because of the circumstances.

I've done tons of care in the past and it really doesn't affect you in the same way. Everyone has a weep when someone dies but out of respect for the families grief you just don't let it affect you in the same way. Plus, you knew the people when they were ill and unable to do things for themselves, not at the prime of their life that everyone else remembers. It helps because you see them as getting a way out of their pain and suffering. It's weird but you do become desensitised to death in a way. I've sat with people holding their hands while they died and it's a very moving place to be. I think it takes a special kind of person to do that sort of job so good for you, I'm sure you'll find it really rewarding!
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