What Can You Do if Your Aging Adult Is Diagnosed with a Scary Illness?

By Andy Niska | December 14, 2017 |

Being diagnosed with any illness can be scary, but when it’s a particularly frightening illness, such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, you and your elderly family member may need to take some extra time to figure out what to do next.

Elderly Care in Spokane WA: What to Do After a Scary Diagnosis

Educate Yourselves as Much as You Can.

The first step after learning that your elderly family member has been diagnosed with an illness is to learn everything that you can about that condition. Your aging adult’s doctor is your first stop for information, of course, but it’s a good idea to learn as much as you can from other sources, too. Joining a support group as your elderly family member’s caregiver can help you to understand what to expect next.

Determine What the Prognosis Is.

After the diagnosis, your elderly family member’s doctor may be able to give you a prognosis. The prognosis is different from the diagnosis in that it’s the estimate of what your senior should expect from the course of her illness. This isn’t exact at all, but it can help you to understand what you and your aging family member need to be prepared for in the next few months or years.

Talk to Your Senior about Sharing the Information.

Depending on the illness and how your aging adult feels about the situation, she may feel weird sharing her diagnosis with too many people. It’s important that you understand what she wants to do with this information. Once you know how to proceed, you can formulate a plan for talking to other family members and friends.

Determine What Extra Assistance You Need.

Your senior may be able to take care of herself fairly well now, but depending on the illness, she may need help sooner than she expects. Hiring elderly care providers and lining up equipment that your elderly family member might need within a few months can allow you to get a head start on getting the extra help that you need.

Getting bad news about your aging adult’s health is never something that you want to experience, but it’s definitely something that you can manage together.

If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Spokane, WA, please contact the friendly staff at Love at Home Senior Care, today. Call (509) 204-4088

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Andy Niska

Owner at Love In Home Senior Care

Andy has over 20+ years experience in the medical community and has a true compassion for seniors. With a degree in Health Care Administration, he developed a background in a variety of health care services that only comes from first hand experience. While working as a manager of a large clinic and as an account executive for medical suppliers. Andy has built valuable relationships with the medical community.

His role in Love In Home Senior Care is to educate people on what care choice is the best fit for the senior and their family while attempting to make this decision as stress-free as possible for everyone involved.

This decision making process should be smooth and stress free for everyone, including all family members and their loved ones. Having access to people with experience (like the team at Love In Home Senior Care) to assist you along the way can help this process. With an extensive background in health care, Andy has the experience needed to guide and direct your loved one to the choice that is the best fit.