Hospiscare Together Magazine Autumn 2020

Ask a ...
Your questions answered by Dr Cate O’Neill
and occupational therapist Sarah Anderson
COVID-19 has made me
more aware of my own
mortality; what can I
do to plan in advance,
should the worst
happen?
The COVID-19 pandemic has
undoubtedly brought death
and dying into the spotlight
and may well have caused us to
contemplate our own mortality,
whatever our age or health status.
Whilst this is not an easy subject
to consider, it may prove to be an
important lever to engage us in
conversation with family or friends
about what our own wishes might
be, should the worst happen.
When considering advance care
planning, you may want to think
How can I adjust to
the ‘new normal’
way of life after the
COVID-19 pandemic?
From the outset, we knew that
the pandemic would have a huge
impact on everyone’s functioning.
For many people, their daily
activities changed overnight;
whether that was working from
home or shielding completely and
therefore not being able to take
part in normal social activities.
Many people have experienced a
grief reaction to the loss of their
‘normal lives’ and really struggled
with the uncertainty of what the
‘new normal’ is. We expect that
the impact of COVID-19 will be
long lasting – not only in terms
about the following; where you
would like to be cared for leading
up to and at the end of life (e.g.
home, hospital, hospice or care
home); who you would like to
speak on your behalf, should you
no longer be able to do this for
yourself (e.g. appointing a lasting
power of attorney); whether or not
you would want to be transferred
to hospital in the event of a
sudden deterioration; writing a
Will to ensure that your loved ones
are taken care of and sharing your
preferences for a funeral service.
Whilst these conversations
are never easy, they can bring
significant relief to both those
approaching the end of their lives
as well as those close to them
by ensuring that their wishes are
known and can be respected,
should that time come.
of the changes to our day-to-day
lives, but also in terms of grief and
loss in particular.
Supporting people to find their
own solutions to difficulties and
new ways of doing tasks is key to
what an occupational therapist
seeks to do. We all need to
adjust to this ‘new normal’ way of
living and it is important we give
ourselves time to do this. Sparing
just ten minutes a day to stop and
take stock, to go for a walk, have a
bath or just take a few breaths can
be such important time.
Many people have found that
‘lockdown’ led them to reevaluate
what and who was really
important. Hold on to this as the
restrictions start to ease. Allow
yourself to feel all of the emotions
that this pandemic has caused;
Dr Cate O’Neill
There is much to learn from the
COVID-19 pandemic. One of the
most important lessons may be for
us all to think about what we would
want in the event that we become
critically unwell so that the care
we receive is in-keeping with our
wishes.
Occupational therapist Sarah Anderson
it’s okay to feel positive one
moment and then upset the next.
Reach out for help if the negative
feelings become harder to shift.
However large or small your
community, there are people who
want to help.
www.hospiscare.co.uk | 7