Caregiving Near Life's End

Caregivers tell us that caring for someone at the end of life changes you - - somtimes in small ways, sometimes dramatically. Many end-of-life caregivers say that they feel like they have gotten more out of caregiving than they've given. For these caregivers, caregiving has its challenges and difficulties but it also leaves the caregiver feeling changed in a positive way. While we know that caregiving at lif's end isn't easy, the caregivers told us that there are opportunities to find meaning and purpose along the way.

Caregiving Near Life's End is a program of The Hospice Institute of the Florida Suncoast. They believe that the difficulty of the journey of caregiving at the end-of-lfe isn't an obstacle to seeing the view - on the contrary it's the difficult journey that helps you to appreciate the view in the first place.

The program consists of nine interactive modules that are facilitated by a trained leader. The modules are educational in nature, but allow time for sharing, provide "hands on" activities, self-directied activities, handouts, and resource material. This program can help you make the final years of a friend's or family member's life more comfortable while finding more meaning in the caregiving experience.

A brief overview of the modules are listed for your information.

Module 1

The Experience of Caregiving at the End of Life includes topics such as The Relationship with the care receiver, Changes in the caregiving role, Dimensions affecting the experience and Reframing.

Module 2

Aspects of Completion & Closure for the Caregiver and the Care-receiver includes the topics of Finding meaning in suffering and Embracing hope and finding purpose.

Module 3

Aspects of Completion & Closure in Life Affairs includes Financial, Legal, Social, and Health Care Issues.

Module 4

Aspects of Completion & Closure in Relationships with the Community covers issues dealing with Employment, Social, Congregational and Organizational involvement.

Module 5

Aspects of Completion & Closure in Personal Relationships deals with Communication & Acceptance, Reconciliation in relationships, Saying goodbye, and Family legacies.

Module 6

Aspects of Completion & Closure: Experience of Love of Self & Love of Others includes the following topics: Acknowledging limitations/expectations, Forgiveness, Worthiness, Acceptance, Unconditional love, Validation and Recognition.

Module 7

Aspects of Completion & Closure: Acceptance of the Finality of Life covers Feeling, attitudes and beliefs about death - Physical, spiritual and psychosocial aspects of dying - Anticipatory grief - and Finality of relationships and roles.

Module 8

Aspects of Completion & Closure: Meaning of Life discusses Finding purpose in caregiving - Spiritual conflict/support - Sense of connectedness - and Acknowledgement of burdens and rewards.

Molude 9

Aspects of Completion & Closure: Bereavement deals with Readiness for death - Acceptance of death - Loss, mourning, and grief - and Tasks of renewal.

This program will help you to cope with changes, losses and life transitions - Say what is important to friends and family - Explore the spiritual aspects of caregiving - Create positive caregiving experiences - Talk about the end-of-life care and make importatn decisions - Know what to expect as caregiving becomes more complex and Provide comfort and dignity near life's end.

Call the Aging Resource Center if you are interested in taking part in this program. Sessions are scheduled on a "as needed" basis.

(920) 683-4180

or Toll Free: 1-877-416-7083



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Last updated: 06-07-05