My mother used to tell me that there were only two guarantees in life – death and taxes.  And yet, in spite of the fact that everyone eventually dies, I was surprisingly unprepared for caring for a dying parent – specifically, my mom. 

My parents lived near me, so I went home every weekend to spend time with mom and give my dad a break, and I was with her for every hospital stay and her time in hospice. 

In addition, I was one of the first of my friends to lose a parent from a long-term illness, so I had no experience with the subject and no one to ask for advice. 

The Important Aspects of Caring for a Dying Parent

The Best Advice I Received on Caring for a Dying Parent

Before I tell you what I wish someone had told me, I will tell you what someone did tell me that I am forever thankful for. 

While my mom was dying, I was fortunate to have many supportive friends.  One day a coworker took me to lunch to see how I was doing.  After sharing with him how hard the situation was, he said something that surprised me, “Yeah, but don’t you think this is an honor?” 

I was stunned, and he continued.  “I guess I just figure that my parents took care of me when I was young, and I will take care of them when they are old.  And it is an honor to be able to do so.  I wouldn’t want it any other way.” 

An Honor to Care for My Mom

In that moment he re-framed my thinking from feeling bad for myself, to feeling proud. Now, I was able to take care of the woman who once took care of me.  It was still incredibly difficult, but it was an honor. 

Then, later when my mom was feeling discouraged, embarrassed, and guilty for how her illness was affecting the rest of us, I told her that she had taken care of me and it was an honor to take care of her – I didn’t want to be any place else.  I could see the weight lifted off her shoulders as her eyes filled up with tears.  Those were the hardest months of my life, but I’m so thankful that I could be there for her.

Now, let’s get started with the practical.

The Practical Aspects of Caring for a Dying Parent

First, let’s look at the practical aspects of taking care of a dying parent including hospice options, paperwork, funeral and burial planning and FMLA.

Hospice Options

Medicare Part A covers hospice care.  It’s important to note that hospice care typically does not include room and board for full time care.  You can learn more about what hospice is covered here. 

So, unless your parent is already in a nursing facility and plans to stay there, you’ll have to make a decision about if you want to do in home or in patient hospice care.  There are upsides and downsides to both options, and you’ll need to consider:

• The financial implications
• How equipped your family is to do the care-giving
• What your parent’s wishes are.

In Home:

Most hospice care is provided in home.  This is the option that my mother chose so that everyone would be able to visit her as much as they wanted. 

The in-patient facility that she toured had small rooms that only accommodated a few visitors at a time, and she had a very large family.  My family was relieved when she made this decision because we wanted to be around her all the time, which was easier to do with her at home. 

If one of your parents is still well, and able to help with the caregiving, and your parents want to stay together as long as possible, this may be a good option.  If you or a sibling have a home that can accommodate your parent’s needs and are up for the commitment, then this option might make sense as well.

Hospice Coordination for In Home Care:

When hospice started, a hospice coordinator came over to get us set up, and a hospital bed was delivered to my parents’ house.  The hospice coordinator shared with us all the services and support that they provided, but it didn’t really sink in that my family was still going to have to do most of the work. 

The hospice nurse would visit once a day to check in.  She was always on call if we needed anything, but we were responsible for most of the hands-on care – such as keeping Mom comfortable, giving her ice chips, administering the pain medication, etc.  It wasn’t easy. 

Caregiving is stressful and does take a toll on the caregiver.  Medicare Part A does cover occasional in-patient respite hospice care so that caregivers may take a break.

If you are unable to afford inpatient hospice care but feel you need more help than just respite services, you could also consider hiring an in-home health aide to assist you.  This is also an option if you must work during the day and need someone at home with your parent; or if your parent is not living with you but is not able to fully take care of him or herself.

Inpatient:

If you or your parent is financially able to pay for inpatient hospice care, or they have private insurance that will cover in patient hospice care, then this may be a good option to consider.  Medical professionals will handle the difficult aspects of care-giving.  You will know your loved one is in good hands and will not have the stress of providing that care. 

However, there are some drawbacks as well. 

• First, while hospice homes are typically designed to feel calming and like a home, you are not at home.  You may spend a significant amount of time away from your home, making it difficult to keep up with the day to day responsibilities of normal living. 

• Next, rooms typically don’t hold many guests, so you will have to take turns visiting your parent.  For larger families, this may mean everyone is spending most of their time in a commons area down the hall from your loved one. 

• Finally, Your parent will also be away from their home, which may be less comforting to them.  If he or she is married, then it may mean periods of separation from a spouse, which may be difficult for both of them.

The Necessary Paperwork of Caring for a Dying Parent

Next, you’ll want to make sure that your parent has the appropriate paperwork on file including a Will, a Medical Power of Attorney, a Financial Power of Attorney, and a Living Will or Do Not Resuscitate Order.

• Will: This determines what happens to your parent’s assets after they pass.  Legal requirements vary by state, and it is important to meet these requirements or the will may not be legally enforceable.  Many people, especially those with a lot of assets or complicated situations, will see an attorney to create a will.  However, websites such as LegalZoom, Willing.com, RocketLawyer.com and many others can help someone create a will online that complies with state laws and will give instructions on how to sign it (often requires witnesses and or a public notary).
• Power of Attorney (Medical and Financial): This will give the person your parent chooses the legal power to make decisions on his or her behalf.  You can learn more about that here.
• Living Will or Do Not Resuscitate Order:  This will dictate the type of care your loved one will receive when he or she is no longer able to make that decision.  An attorney or legal website can create that document.  When hospice care begins, the hospice coordinator may help your parent set up a Do Not Resuscitate Order.

Funeral and Burial Planning

My family was fortunate that my mom prepared as much as she could to take the burden off her family.  Not everyone has these conversations beforehand.  Moreover, in the midst of the heightened emotions of grieving, planning a funeral and choosing a grave-site can be overwhelming. In addition, it can also lead to conflict within your family.

What to Ask Your Parent

If your parent is still coherent and willing to talk about it, get their input on as much as you can. 

• Do they want to be buried or cremated? 
• What kind of funeral service would they like? 
• Do they want any specific songs played or passages read? 
• Do they want a wake where stories are shared? 
• Where would they like to be buried or have their ashes stored? 

Even in a close family, people will have different opinions on what mom or dad would have wanted.  However, if mom or dad gives input ahead of time, then that’s one less thing to worry or argue about. I’m forever thankful that my mom planned all that she did, including planning her entire funeral service, even though it was difficult. 

A Funny Moment

Perhaps the oddest moment of this process was the day that I accompanied my parents to pick out grave-sites.  Mom wanted to be buried at the prettiest but most expensive cemetery in town, and my dad is rather frugal.  They weren’t making any progress on the decision, so Mom asked me to join them to tour the various options. 

The situation resolved itself when we went to the place she liked, and Dad found out that they were having a “buy one get one half off” sale that day.  I was a little disturbed (aren’t BOGO sales supposed to be for shoes and jeans?), but Mom and Dad were very happy with the beautiful plots they picked out, and the money they saved. 

Now, years later people still find comfort visiting mom’s grave under the tree she picked out. It’s not too far from the water spigot, so they can fill up the vase when they put flowers in – she always was practical.  It was hard, and at times uncomfortable, talking about these things with her; but it was very much worth it.  And we created some good memories along the way.

FMLA & Your Job

Now, let’s talk about you. If you are still working, figuring out how to balance your job and taking care of your parent isn’t always easy.  However, FMLA (the Family and Medical Leave Act) does offer protection for those taking care of sick parents as long as you and your employer meet certain criteria. 

You can also take intermittent FMLA instead of continuous FMLA, which will allow you to take time off in staggered periods or take off some time each week.  You can apply for intermittent FMLA and then take it when you need it. 

At the point that you realize your parent is dying and you are going to need to help take care of them, I recommend that you go ahead and complete the paperwork.  When you find yourself having to unexpectedly miss work, you won’t have the added stress of having to make arrangements with your employer.  You can learn more here.

The Emotional Aspects of Caring for a Dying Parent

So now that we’ve covered some of the practical aspects of caring for a dying parent, let’s move on to the equally important emotional aspect. This includes what to expect, making final memories and conversations, how to deal and self-care.

What to Expect

I hadn’t really been around a dying person until my mom was on hospice.  I was shocked to learn about the “active dying” process in which the body has to actively shut itself down.  This phase usually lasts a few days and involves skin color changing, breathing changing, no longer eating or drinking, and the patient becoming semi-comatose. 

Hospice Will Help

The hospice nurse let us know when she thought it had started.  In addition, she told us what to expect in the final few days and gave a pretty accurate estimate of how much time we had left with her.  It was helpful to have the hospice nurse available on call.  She even came to the house at 2 am, in the middle of a thunderstorm, when we needed her. 

Your Duties

You might have hospice duties you will need to preform when taking care of your dying parent. We were fortunate to have two nurses in my family who were often there; but in between, I oversaw administering the pain medication.  It was very stressful.  I kept a notebook to write down the times that I gave her the various medicines and had the schedule memorized, even in my sleep. 

There were difficult things we had to do to take care of her, like helping re-position her in the bed which clearly caused her pain.  The hospice nurses are there to support the caregivers, so reach out to them with questions or to ask for advice or help, even if it’s in the middle of the night.

Making Final Memories and Conversations

With death, there are no do-overs, and I tried to keep this in mind as we went through those difficult last days. 

Making Memories:

If you are still early enough in the process that your parent is feeling well, you may be able to plan some fun experiences. Perhaps you can take your parent to a place that is special to him or her, or go for walks in the park, or go out for ice cream, etc. 

As much as you are able and want to, take advantage of those opportunities. Remember, after he or she passes, all the normal tasks and demands of life that keep you busy will still be there waiting for you.  Unfortunately, your parent will not.

Having Conversations:

This is also an opportunity for you to be intentional about your conversations.  It’s a chance to reflect on the good times you have shared together, ask for advice or wisdom, clear up misunderstands, apologize, forgive, share what you love or appreciate about your parent, etc. 

• I have some friends who have preserved these conversations in their journals or audio recorded them. 
• You could also write a letter to your parent and read it to them if you find it difficult to come up with the words on the spot.

One-Sided Conversations:

The final days seemed to drag on forever as people came and went and we sat around the house waiting for the inevitable.  I thought this felt really awkward – all of us sitting around just watching Mom while she was on her journey to leave this world. 

The nurse had told me that she could probably still hear us, and so I started talking – telling her who was there, what people were doing, funny things that had happened, random thoughts.  It made me feel better having that last connection with my mom, and I think it probably helped her too, hearing my voice and knowing what was going on. 

Everyone Deals with Things Differently

A friend once told me that in grief, everything is normal.  And when caring for someone with a terminal illness, grieving starts prior to the actual death. 

It was surprising to see how people dealt with losing someone they loved.  There were some who were normally the pillar of strength in difficult circumstances that I noticed were avoiding the situation as much as possible.  There were others who were surprisingly comfortable with death and seemed to know just what to do to help. 

For example, I tended to focus on tasks and keeping things going.  Another family member was comfortable to just sit.  Another withdrew and wanted to be alone.  Each person responded uniquely to the situation. 

Because people are different and everyone is feeling very raw emotions, it is easy to accidentally hurt those you care about.  Do your best to accept that each person has their own unique way of grieving.  Try to not be offended when you don’t understand them or they don’t understand you. 

In addition, try to be honest when you are struggling and apologize when you accidentally hurt someone.  Give others the benefit of the doubt as much as you can.

Self-Care and Asking for Help

Taking care of a dying parent is difficult.  Not only are there the physical demands of care-giving, but you are dealing with your own emotions as you are beginning to grieve the impending loss of your mom or dad.  Additionally, you likely must still manage the demands of your normal life. 

If you have a friend who has already lost a parent, he or she may be a good source of support as they will understand what you are going through.  And even if you don’t, others will want to be there for you as well.  Other sources of support could include coworkers, in law’s, members of the faith community you are in, as well as the nurses or hospice workers.

A word of caution:

You may have some friends that pull back at this time.  Death is an uncomfortable reality that many choose to avoid thinking about until they absolutely must.  Others just struggle with knowing what to say. 

I remember when my mom passed away, one friend never reached out me, much to my surprise.  Months later she came to visit and tearfully apologized, saying that she had felt so bad for what I was going through but didn’t know what to say, so she just avoided me altogether.  It hurt, but I understood after she apologized, and the friendship was still worth keeping. 

How to Find Help

If your situation is hectic with things happening quickly, you may not know what you need.  It could feel like you are in survival mode, just trying to keep up.  But as you find tasks that are causing undue stress, be sure to reach out for help, whether in person; or, for less personal requests, through social media, including sites like CaringBridge. 

Maybe you need someone to run an errand you can’t complete, or help transport a child while you are with your parent, or sit with your parent while you handle something.  Or maybe you just need help with meals or mowing the lawn.  Ask for help when you need it.  And if you can afford it, now is a good time to consider outsourcing tasks you don’t need to complete yourself – such as grocery delivery, yard maintenance, or a housecleaning service.

Self-Care is Important

Remember to take care of yourself as well as your parent.  Get rest.  Take a break from the situation.  Get together with a friend.  In order to be a good caregiver, you need to also take care of yourself.  As the flight attendants always say, you should put on your own oxygen mask before assisting someone else.  You can’t take care of your parent well if you are completely burned out.

Conclusions

Taking care of a dying parent is difficult, but it is also an honor and a chance to make wonderful last memories.  By thinking through the practical and emotional aspects of the situation, you can make those final days go as smoothly as possible and allow yourself to make the most of those final days together.

Relevant Articles:

• Caring for Elderly Parents
• Long Term Care Insurance
• Preparing for a Mastectomy
• What Does Medicare Part A Cover?
• Medicare 101

The post Caring for a Dying Parent appeared first on Medicare Life Health.

Medicare Life Health’s author Crystal gives you first-hand information on having a double mastectomy including preparation and recovery information, helpful lists and tips.

Approximately 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.  In addition, many of these women will have a mastectomy or bilateral, aka double mastectomy, as part of treatment.  The prospect of this surgery may seem overwhelming but preparing in advance can make the experience much easier.

How to Prepare for a Double Mastectomy

After losing my grandma and then my mom to an aggressive form of breast cancer, my doctor and I decided that we needed to take significant action to reduce my risk.  When I was done having children, I opted for a preventative double mastectomy to reduce my risk.

The process was daunting – I was mostly focused on the statistics, the right screenings, and the surgery itself.  Moreover, a few weeks before surgery, I realized that I had no idea how to get through the actual process.  There was lots of information readily available on the surgery itself.  However, I had no idea how to get through the weeks that followed. For instance, I wondered, what happens after I got home from the hospital?

What I learned was, I needed to prepare not just a list of things to help with surgery, but more importantly, a list of people. You need a support team.

Preparing Your Support Team

First of all, a single or a double mastectomy is no small procedure.  This is not something that you should do on your own. In fact, you will want the support of friends, family, and the community during this time to assist in your recovery. 

Those who care about you will want to help, so try to determine in advance who you have on your support team, and what needs you anticipate.  I suggest making an actual list of people and how they can help.

To start, here are some places to look for support:

• Cancer support groups – First, numerous nonprofits exist that help women battling breast cancer.  Your doctor, or an online search, can connect you with one.  These groups provide resources such as support meetings, recovery advice, and pre-surgery gift bags.
  
• Online support groups – Second, look for informal Facebook groups. You can find online communities of women there going through cancer treatment.  This can be a great source of support and advice. 
  
  When I was preparing for my procedures, I appreciated the online dialogue with other women who understood what I was going through. In addition, they could offer advice on various challenges I encountered throughout the process.
  
• Friends and family – Finally, put some thought into who wants to help – as well as who is actually helpful. In addition, consider what they are good at. 
  
  You may have a well-meaning sister who causes you a lot of stress.  She is probably not the person to have with you at the hospital the day of surgery. However, she could be great at stocking your fridge with pre-made meals. 
  
  Or you may have a brother who would love to help, but you feel awkward having him around in the first few days after such a personal surgery.  Perhaps he could be enlisted to mow the lawn or take you grocery shopping a week after your surgery.

What Your Team Can Help With

Knowing what your team can help with is half the battle! Since you have not been through this before, you probably don’t know exactly what support will be the most helpful. However, I have, and this is what I wish someone would have told me:

• Transportation Help – First, you will need someone to drive you to the hospital and be there during your surgery.  You will also need someone to drive you home after you are released.
  
• Personal Needs Help – Second, you will likely need some assistance with very personal needs in the early days after a double mastectomy. 
  • Your surgery drains will need to be “stripped” several times a day.  While it is possible to do this yourself (I did), it may be challenging, especially if you have had chemotherapy.  If you have a support person to help with this, he or she should come to the hospital to have a nurse show the proper way to strip drains. 
  • Your doctor will tell you how often to change your dressings.  While also possible to do this yourself, it is helpful to have assistance.
  • If you have shower restrictions after surgery, you may wish to wash your hair in the sink.  This is another task that is helpful to have assistance with.
    
• Basic Needs Help – In addition, you need to eat, laundry has to be done, trash needs to be taken out, you need to go to follow up doctor’s appointments, etc. Line someone up to do these things for you.
  
• Emotional Support Help – Finally, a mastectomy is a very personal and emotional process.  Having a friend to talk with, or to get you out of the house and distract you, is a blessing.  Knowing in advance who can come visit you, accompany you for a walk, take you out for lunch, etc. gives you confidence that you are not alone in this process.

What to Do in Advance

Here is your “To-Do” list of what needs to get done in advance of your surgery.

To Do:

Make your Support List

• To begin, make a list of all that you think you will need help with for the first 2 – 3 weeks after your surgery.  (Remember that you will have driving restrictions, so don’t forget to include transportation to follow up appointments.) 
• Then think about what you can do in advance.  Then think about your sources of support who could help with the things that can’t be done in advance.

Plan for Food

• You can make freezer meals in advance.  A simple online search will show many tasty meals that can be prepared in advance and stored in your freezer, then cooked/heated up when you are ready to eat them.
• Ask a friend to coordinate a meal delivery service for you if you have friends and family who would like to help in this way.  Meal Train is a free online service that allows you to create an event and email a link to friends.  They can sign up to provide meals on a specific day.  If you are part of a faith community, they may have a group of volunteers who provide meals to those recovering from surgery or illness. 
• Purchase pre-made meals from a grocery store.

Plan for Personal Assistance

• Plan to need some assistance on a regular basis for the first few weeks after surgery.  Your needs will be more personal in the first few days, so that is a good time for your closest friends and family to visit.  Keep a calendar with the schedule of who is coming when.  Be sure to have transportation assistance for follow up doctor’s appointments and any errands that you must run.
• For a fee, Meal Train offers online scheduling for people to come help you.
• Also, if you know that you won’t want to sit at home alone for weeks on end, proactively plan fun outings with friends or family.  A quick lunch or coffee date could do wonders for your emotional well-being.

Ask for Help

• When you know your specific needs and who you are comfortable having help, you will have a response ready when people say “Let me know if there is anything I can do to help”. 
• And don’t forget, restaurant gift cards are a great option for well meaning friends or family who aren’t nearby or who are extremely busy.
• Additionally, be vulnerable – most people like being needed, don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Get Your House in Order

• In the days before your surgery, have your cupboards stocked, laundry done, lawn mowed, and any cleaning or tidying complete.  Don’t assume that you will feel up to any of those tasks immediately after surgery.  Enlist the help of a friend if needed.
• Purchase all items that you will need during your recovery period (see Preparing for a Double Mastectomy – What to Buy for tips).

Pack Your Double Mastectomy Hospital Bag

• The hospital will provide most of what you need while you are there, but be sure to bring any personal hygiene items that you prefer.
• Bring a comfy set of clothing to wear home, and a pillow to protect your chest area from the seat-belt on the way home. 
• Additionally, bring good book or something else to help pass the time. 
• Oh, and don’t forget your cell phone charger!
• Then, take a deep breath – even with the best made plans and lots of preparation, something will go wrong or get missed.  It will be ok.  This is a difficult process and there will be hiccups, but you will get through it!

What you Need to Recover from a Double Mastectomy

In the months leading up to the surgery, I was focused on doctors’ appointments, screenings, and applying for FMLA.  But then a few weeks before surgery, I realized that I had no idea how to prepare for recovery. 

Even though I took care of my mom after her surgery, and I had several aunts who had also been through the process, no one had any solid advice on how to make recovery easier.  There was lots of information readily available on the surgery itself.  But I had no idea what to do once I got home from the hospital.

When you make the decision to have a mastectomy, you will want to find out in advance what your doctor recommends for recovery.  You will likely have a brief stay in the hospital, followed by restrictions on lifting, driving, showering/bathing, sleeping positions, how high you can reach, etc. 

Be sure to ask your surgeon about these topics prior to surgery.  If you know this information ahead of time, you can understand what your needs will be and have time to prepare to minimize the discomfort and inconvenience afterward. 

Double Mastectomy Must Have’s

First, let’s start with the basics. Here is your shopping or gathering list of the most important things you need to make your recovery as smooth as possible.

Comfortable Clothing

• Post surgery you will likely be sent home with a compression bra and surgical drains.  Your arm mobility will somewhat limited, so your normal clothing may not work well during this time.  I recommend loose button up or zip up shirts. 
• If your surgery is during the cooler months, then zip up fleece jackets work well.  Be sure they are loose so that your drain bags will fit underneath. 
• The summer months present a different challenge as you may be hot from the extra layers and unable to shower.  Try to find loose, lightweight clothing to get you through the first few weeks. 
• You needn’t spend a fortune on clothes that aren’t your normal style – your local thrift store may have great options.  It’s fine to wear the same outfit multiple times in those first few weeks. 
• Also, keep in mind that you will likely have compression stockings to wear initially to reduce your risk of blood clots.  So plan your pants and footwear accordingly.  A pair of nonslip socks for wearing around the house may be a good investment as well.

Drain holders

• You will have post surgery drains to help with the healing process.  The drains are tubes fastened inside of you with bulbs on the end that will fill with fluid. 
• You’ll want to keep these protected so that they aren’t caught on anything, and you may feel more comfortable keeping them completely out of sight. 
• Your doctor may send you home with safety pins to clip them to your clothes, or you may receive complimentary drain holders from a breast cancer group – however those are often plastic and bulky. 
• Drain holders such as these are soft and comfortable to wear under your clothes.

Reclining Arm Chair or Multiple Pillows

• Your doctor may recommend that you sleep in an inclined position for a period after your surgery. 
• If you do not have a reclining chair, consider borrowing one or renting one. 
• If that is not an option, then plan to have multiple pillows in bed to support you. 
• Wherever you sleep, have a nightstand next to you that you can store a water bottle and your pain pills on.  When you wake up in pain, you will be glad to have your medicine within an arm’s reach.

Hygiene Products

Your doctor may have restrictions on showering, possibly up to a couple weeks.  While not ideal, you can purchase products to help you get through this time period.

• Dry shampoo – After my double mastectomy, I washed my hair in the sink every 2 – 3 days.  I sprayed dry shampoo in my hair in the evenings so that my hair would not get greasy in between washes.  This brand worked well for me.
• Facial wipes – While you will likely be able to wash your face, these are an extremely convenient way to freshen up when you aren’t feeling well.
• Baby wipes – Use these to clean/freshen up your body when you aren’t able to shower.
• Large gauze pads – Your doctor will tell you how often to change your dressings, but you will need to buy the gauze pads yourself.  Mastectomy incisions are large and typical gauze pads aren’t big enough.  Many pharmacies do not carry the larger sizes that the hospitals use, but Walmart offers these surgical dressings at a reasonable price. 
• Small gauze pads – You will need smaller gauze pads for covering the sites where the surgery drains are removed.
• If you have sensitive skin, be sure to buy tape for sensitive skin.  My personal favorite is this brand, which I found at Target. 

Other Double Mastectomy Helpful Items

In addition, to the “must-have” items above. Here are some of the other very helpful things to consider having on-hand.

• Slip on walking shoes – Once your doctor approves walking, you’ll want to follow his or her recommendations.  Walking may help with reducing soreness, building strength, and preventing blood clots.  It’s also a good chance to get out of the house.  Slip on shoes are helpful when your mobility is limited after surgery.
• Large water bottle – Hydration is important in healing.  Keep it full and drink often.  Your hospital may send you home with one as well.
• Over the counter pain medication – As recommended by your doctor.
• Ice packs – Your doctor may allow you to use an ice pack to help with pain on the incision site.
• Heating pad – I found that I had a lot of back soreness due to the physical discomfort, reduced mobility, and reclined sleeping position.  The heating pad was helpful in managing this back soreness.
• Activities to pass the time – In the early days after a mastectomy, physical activity will be limited and it’s easy to get bored.  Plan to have activities to pass the time, such as books, puzzles, crossword puzzles, adult coloring books, or a streaming service to watch your favorite movies.

Helpful Services

Finally, recovery is much faster if you can truly rest. As much as you can (or can afford), try to enlist professionals or volunteer to do your labor for at least a few weeks.

Cleaning Services

Cleaning your home after a single or double mastectomy will be difficult due to limited mobility, lift restrictions, and fatigue. Consequently, this is a good time to invest in a cleaning service if you can afford it. 

The nonprofit Cleaning for a Reason offers free cleaning services to women with cancer.  You can find out more at here to see if it is offered in your area.

Grocery Delivery Service

Lifting and driving restrictions may make it difficult to shop for groceries the first few weeks after your mastectomy.  Many grocery stores offer delivery service for just a few dollars, or even free if you purchase a certain amount. 

In addition, consider buying pre-made meals during this time.

Mowing Service

Finally, if you do not have someone else to mow your yard and you are having your surgery during the summer months, look for a lawn care service that can help you in the interim. 

Conclusions

Choosing to have a single or a double mastectomy is a big decision. However, the recovery period does not need to be overwhelming.  By preparing in advance, you can make the time go smoothly and more comfortably. 

Furthermore, this is a major life event, and it is important that you set yourself up for a successful recovery.  Remember that recovery is just a season. Eventually you will get back to the way you normally live. 

In the meantime, take care of yourself, follow your doctor’s orders, and follow these tips to make the process easier.

Your Story

What tips, comments or suggestions do you have for others considering a double mastectomy? Would would love to hear your advice, stories or comments.

Also by Crystal Bayliss:

• Caring for a Dying Parent

The post Double Mastectomy: How to Prepare and Recover appeared first on Medicare Life Health.