Does Your Senior Not Want to Pursue Treatment for Cancer?

As soon as you heard that your elderly loved one was living with cancer, the first thing that likely came to mind was what type of treatment they would undergo, and how effective it would be.
As their adult child, you want the best for them and to protect their health and well-being as much as possible, and as their family caregiver, you want to be prepared for the care needs they will have during this trying period for your elderly adult. However, hearing a diagnosis of cancer is not the start of any type of treatment.

Home Health Care in Riverhead NY: Cancer Treatment for Seniors

Many elderly adults decide not to pursue any form of treatment after a diagnosis of cancer, which can be very challenging for a family caregiver to understand. Evaluating why your senior may decide not to pursue treatment for their cancer can help you to better grasp this decision and move forward supporting them with the love and compassion they need.

Some of the reasons your senior may not want to pursue treatment for cancer include:

-They are already living with other serious health issues that make them a poor candidate for receiving the type of treatment that would be needed for their form of cancer.

-Their health has reduced their life expectancy to less than the amount of time a doctor thinks would be appropriate for the pursuit of treatment.

-The types of treatments available for their form of cancer are not treatment options your senior is open to.

-Your senior has determined that the side effects of the cancer treatments would be negative enough to diminish their quality of life beyond the point where the potential benefits are worth it.

Even if your elderly parent decides not to pursue treatment for cancer, you will still play a vital role in their journey with the disease.

Your care along with the support of a home care provider can be instrumental in helping your parent to maintain better health, safety, comfort, and meaning in their life as they battle this disease.

Caring for an elderly adult with a severe medical issue such as cancer can be extremely stressful.
Attempting to do it all on your own can leave you exhausted and incapable of managing your daily responsibilities effectively. Bringing home care into your care routine for a senior with cancer can be an extremely beneficial decision both for your elderly parent and for you.

This in-home senior care services provider can supplement the care you give to ensure your parent has access to everything they need, while also providing you with the freedom and flexibility in your schedule that’s necessary to allow you to manage other responsibilities and handle your own needs as well.

If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Homecare in Riverhead, NY, call the caring staff at Artful Home Care today at 631-685-5001.