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As hospice patients near the end of their lives, regrets are likely to emerge. Despite intentions to live with no regrets, they are inevitable. Many dying seniors share the following regrets, and others stand to learn from this and lead happier, more fulfilling lives.
Regret 1: Failing to show more love
It is common for hospice patients to express sorrow for not having shown more attention, understanding, love, and care to the people who were important in their lives. Not taking everyday opportunities to say “I love you” is a frequent regret.
Older men regret not having verbally expressed their emotions of deep love toward their wives often enough. While reflecting during their stay in hospice, these seniors realize they do not have the ability to go back to the past and express gratitude or ask for apologies and forgiveness.
Seniors in hospice advise others to say how they feel when emotions emerge. It is important for people to share their sentiments with others while they are still around. Write a letter, pick up the phone, or visit loved ones to let them know how much they are cared for.
Regret 2: Taking family for granted
Seniors in hospice who are also spouses oftentimes feel regret for taking their husbands or wives for granted. Others wish they had been a better parent to their children or a more grateful son or daughter to a mother or father.
Such regrets become amplified when these terminally ill seniors are in hospice, surrounded by loving relatives. After all, the seniors’ family members are the ones who stand by their side in hospice care, offering them daily love, care, and attention.
Hospice patients have words of wisdom for others: Even though family members can be imperfect, they are the ones who provide unwavering support during the most critical times. Express gratitude to them for being there when they are needed the most.
Regret 3: Focusing excessively on work
Almost no one in hospice wishes they had worked more. Rather, many hospice patients do not forgive themselves for having worked long hours and missed their children’s important milestones. Prioritizing work over kids, they were unable to form strong bonds with their children during their formative years.
Elderly individuals in hospice urge younger people to work for a company that prioritizes a healthy work-life balance. Employees have choices when it comes to work. Consider declining assignments when they interfere with family life. While a career is important, seeing children grow up is equally significant.
Regret 4: Disregarding career opportunities
Seniors in hospice look back on their careers and wish they had taken more risks with their careers. Regrets emerge when these individuals recall saying no to career opportunities, especially when their risk avoidance was due to feeling too comfortable or not wanting to disturb the status quo.
Seniors advise younger generations to take career risks. Regrets are more likely to surface due to not making a risky career move—rather than having taken a leap of faith and not having it turn out as intended. Accept meaningful career opportunities unless there is a compelling reason not to.
Vice versa, when the elderly reach closer to hospice age, they start to concern about the upcoming future, read Tips for Successful Aging to learn six ways to prepare for aging and enjoy the rest of lives.
Regret 5: Ignoring personal health
Regrets about neglecting self-care are commonplace among hospice patients. Many seniors look back and wish they had eaten healthier, exercised more, and made efforts to incorporate quality sleep into each day. They dwell on the possibility that a healthier lifestyle would have led to less illness.
Dying a little sooner may seem acceptable to those who smoke, drink, and lead an unhealthy lifestyle. However, seniors in hospice warn that, given today’s medical care, instead of dying, individuals are more likely to live with chronic illness for 10 or 20 years.
Regret 6: Failing to reconcile
Unresolved rifts with family members are another top regret of older hospice patients. The majority of elderly parents in hospice wish they had tried harder to forgive, apologize, or otherwise reconcile with an estranged adult child. Anguish and remorse can linger when such a relationship remains unrestored.
Resolving an estranged relationship, whether with a child, spouse, or friend, is a strong recommendation by seniors in hospice care. Open the lines of communication and attempt to repair the relationship. Seek forgiveness and reconciliation before it is too late.
Regret 7: Forgetting to enjoy life more
An unfulfilled life meets with regret toward the end. Some seniors in hospice wish they had pursued their dreams rather than trying to live up to someone else’s expectations. Others spent most of their time worrying rather than engaging in activities that produce joy, like traveling.
Hospice seniors urge others to live life to the fullest while they enjoy good health. Delaying a trip around the world until retirement is unadvised, especially since health can start to fail. Also, give to charitable organizations that benefit others long after the initial acts of generosity.
Although seniors in hospice may have regrets, they are compassionately cared for by the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care. We are a leader in quality home care and offer a range of senior care services, including hospice care, memory care, post-surgical care, and companion care.
Hospice care from Assisting Hands Home Care is designed to ensure the terminally ill senior is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. Professional caregivers show senior care recipients the utmost respect during this difficult time, allowing family members to focus on end-of-life arrangements.
Our dependable caregivers support the senior with all the activities of daily living, including personal hygiene tasks, preparing healthy meals, providing transportation, giving medication reminders, and performing light housekeeping. We also deter loneliness and isolation by serving as pleasant companions.
Assisting Hands Home Care services to meet seniors’ non-medical care needs in the comfort of home. Aging in place is important to many older adults, and our dedicated elder care services make this possible. Call us at (888) 559-3889 to schedule an in-home consultation and start quality senior care today.
