The only certainty in life is that as surely as you’re born, someday, you’ll pass away. As hard as it is to lose someone or face your own mortality, making peace with death is a non-negotiable part of life.
Suffering from a terminal illness makes preparing for end-of-life care even more important. You also have the stress of managing medical bills and arranging your affairs for when you pass. There’s not much anyone can do to soften the blow of being terminally ill, but hopefully, this piece will help you with some of the decisions you have to make.
It’s in your best interests to see a psychologist.
Of all the things we endure in life, aside from grieving the loss of a loved one, facing the end must be the most difficult of them all. It’s natural for terminal cancer patients and people suffering from other terminal illnesses to feel depressed, but you can’t afford to allow yourself to succumb to it. As long as you have life left in your body, you should do all you can to find moments of joy.
If your depression becomes too much for you to handle on your own, then it’s wise to seek the help of a family therapist. Some people are against seeing psychiatrists, but speaking with one could help you find peace during this most difficult trial.
Talking to a mental health professional isn’t like talking to your family and friends. Even though they love you and mean well, they don’t have the experience or years of study to apply conversation as a type of therapy.
The difference is that therapists search deep within your words to find thought patterns you’re probably unaware of and help you find and face underlying fears, even death. You may not get all the answers you need in therapy, but speaking with a counselor might help you cope a little better with circumstances.
How will you manage living expenses and healthcare costs?
When you’re dealing with end-of-life issues, the last thing you want to worry about is your finances. Alongside the mental and physical tolls that being terminally ill can have on a person, the financial burden can be another crushing weight.
Even if you have health insurance, most insurance policies don’t cover all of the costs that cancer patients and other terminally ill patients face. Not to mention, you still have to cover your cost of living, and most terminally ill people can’t work, which makes it hard to put food on your table.
A viatical settlement allows someone who’s got a life expectancy of 24 months or less to sell their life insurance policy. Even though it’s a somber financial option, getting a viatical settlement is a great way to cover your living expenses, medical expenses, and burial expenses. You may even have enough to clear your debts to ensure they don’t fall to your next of kin.
To get the best offer for your life insurance policy, you’re going to have to shop around. It’s best to go with a reputable life settlement company like American Life Fund. American Life Fund viatical settlements only take 1-2 weeks to process, and their settlement officers handle each situation with compassion.
Home, assisted living, or hospice?
Another tough decision you face is whether to go into an assisted living facility, hospice care, or stay home. Of course, most people would probably rather spend their last days at home than anywhere else. There’s no place on earth that you know better. And, you don’t have to worry about moving or figuring out what to do with your home.
Staying home is only a good option if you have relatives who can provide you with around-the-clock care and assistance or if you can afford professional in-home care. If those aren’t your circumstances, your best option is to go to a nursing home or hospice care facility. It’s not ideal to be away from home, but you need to make sure you’re in a place where you can get the best care possible.
