Caregiving Connect

Coordinating the never-ending doctor appts, trying to get lab results, setting up therapy appts, getting new medicines and treatments - it's all exhausting! I did all this for more than a decade for my parents and some for my sister when she was hospitalized so I know how hard it can be. Here are a few quick tips to help make things go as smoothly as possible: Get legal authority to coordinate care -  Make sure your loved ones have advance directives in place. A power of attorney (POA) for health care gives you or someone else on the caregiving team the legal right to talk with practitioners, manage your family member's health care and make decisions if the person is unable to do so.Be prepared for appointments -  If you make their job easier and faster, medical professionals will be much more responsive to you. For example, download new-patient forms and complete them ahead of time; bring your notes and questions with you; bring medical history and o

Most people are wearing masks now in public, to protect other people if they are not sure about being infected, and to protect themselves from breathing in coronavirus. And some people are having trouble wearing them: they complain of getting dizzy, or feeling claustrophobic. It is important for everyone, especially in indoor spaces like grocery stores, to wear them. If you or your loved one is resisting putting one on, there are things you can do to relieve the discomfort:* wear one that has elastic, and rest it under your chin when you don't need it, like in the car, so you can easily pull it back up when necessary, like entering the store.* if you need a break, leave your shopping cart in an unobtrusive place, and walk outside, finding a place where there are few people, and take it off for a few minutes.* Pull the bottom of the mask away from your face for a few moments if you can't leave the indoor area easily. Stand and breathe normally but a little bit more deeply than you

  Be prepared with a heart attack kit - what to include to prepare for an emergency   As a caregiver you should always be prepared. Tape an emergency heart attack kit on the wall of the kitchen, or anywhere that’s highly visible in your home. The kit should include important documents, such as a do not resuscitate (DNR) order (if necessary), aspirin; nitroglycerin (if prescribed); information on medications and allergies; the doctor's phone number and people to contact in case the caregiver is not in the home when the emergency occurs.    

  An excerpt by Lee Woodruff   Tips for minimizing sibling squabbles   Change language when asking siblings to pitch in, and be really specific. Instead of asking “Can you do this?” try your version of “Dad needs to go to the cardiologist on April 1 at 11 a.m. Please make arrangements to take him. Here is the doctor's number, and I told Dad you'd call and confirm with him tonight.”

  Card Holder   For those who find holding a hand of cards difficult, a simple pool noodle can solve your problem. Cut a section of pool noodle then slice the section in half lengthwise. Then cut a 2-inch slot in the top of the noodle. You now have a holder with a slot for your cards.

My parents are in their early eighties, both with health issues. They don't seem to think that there should be plans in place when they can no longer do for themselves. We live 2000 miles apart, I'm an only child.  They won't consider moving closer to me and I fear that if something happens to either of them, we will be faced with making poorly thought-out arrangements. They won't engage in a serious conversation and I feel they are in denial. How do others approach their parents? Are there articles on this topic?

  5 steps to disinfecting surfaces after a caregiving visit   1. Pre-clean surfaces with soap and water prior to disinfecting to remove excess dirt or grime.   2. Use the disinfecting spray or wipe as directed.   3. After disinfecting, let the surface air dry, making sure it stays wet for as long as recommended on the product label. This is critical in ensuring that the proper germ or virus kill takes place as intended.   4. If disinfecting food contact surfaces or toys, rinse with water after they air dry.   5. If using a disinfectant wipe, throw out after using. Do not flush any non-flushable products.   Source: American Cleaning Institute

  Make navigating your house at night a little easier by putting glow-in-the-dark tape around light switches, thermostats, and as a guide around baseboards and doorways.  

Many states and communities are loosening up on restrictions, but what is really safe? Here are some tips to help you navigate the "new normal": Find out what is open in your area. Keep in mind that parts of a state may be more "open" than others. Individual counties and cities can impose (or loosen) restrictions regarding what is open, how many people can be in a place of business and whether or not face masks are required etc.. So it's best to check on your city or county website or check with a local news station to find out what's going on near you. AARP provides this list of states and their current state of restrictions (it's updated frequently because things change so much). To find out what services for older adults are resuming, contact the service provider or facility directly or contact your local area agency on aging (to find your local area agency on aging go to the Eldercare Locator at www.eldercare.acl.gov or call 1-800-677-1116). Be sure to take safe

  An excerpt by Lee Woodruff   Tips for minimizing sibling squabbles   Don't be the archetypical child who lives far away but swoops in with all the demands and “great” ideas about a parent's care. Your job as the sibling who is not on the front lines is to say thank-you to the one who is.

  Make jar opening easier with the use of a box cutter or sharp knife and a tennis ball. Slice around the tennis ball and use the cut out piece to get a better grasp on jar tops.

  An excerpt by Lee Woodruff   Tips for minimizing sibling squabbles   Don't have regrets about being connected as a parent fails. When you think about them, pick up the phone and call, even if the conversation lasts a minute.

  Simplify the dressing process for your loved one by organizing their closet by outfit. This will make it easy and stress free for them to choose clothes that match. Then place the other items of clothing, such as underwear, socks and accessories into easy-to-reach, top-level drawers to minimize bending. 

  An excerpt by Lee Woodruff   Tips for minimizing sibling squabbles   Hire an end-of-life care manager (if that's in the budget) who can act as a third-party knowledgeable resource to provide local options, especially if you don't live nearby. This can also reduce decisions and infighting.

  An excerpt by Lee Woodruff   Tips for minimizing sibling squabbles   Have the end of life discussion early and try to make your caregiving wishes as clear as possible and legally binding. There are many resources at AARP to create conversations around wishes, advanced directives and health care proxies.

  User friendly crutches!    Crutches can be very hard on the hands. A simple way to avoid skin irritation and bruised ribs is to use pipe insulation, electrical tape and a box cutter to create a softer grip area.

  An excerpt from Barry J. Jacobs:    There is a reason why plaques with the Serenity Prayer — which implores us to “Accept the things we cannot change” — hang in many hospital rooms and health care facilities. They are reminders to individuals suffering illness and their family members that medical science may be limited in producing a cure. Health care providers, too, need to be reminded that their healing powers are formidable but have bounds.   As the front-line care providers for millions of Americans with serious and chronic illnesses, family caregivers must also remember the admonitions of the Serenity Prayer. Tender loving care, painstakingly organized and devotedly practiced, matters greatly to their loved ones’ comfort and quality of lives but may not change their medical outcomes. This is especially so when conditions get worse and support services are harder to come by. Like the finest physicians and nurses who provide the best care they can e

Use the tab from a soda can and 6 feet of twine to help you zip dresses or blouses that have hard to reach back zippers.  

How is everyone staying in contact with their loved ones in nursing homes or assisted living facilities during this time of heightened separation?   Would love to hear some helpful tips on doing so. What mechanisms have you used, technologies, etc...?    

    An excerpt from Barry J. Jacobs:    Frequent change is unsettling to anyone. But the most capable caregivers are generally those who are creative problem-solvers in the face of change — that is, they don't depend so much on the care regimens they've carefully devised as on their capabilities to adapt and readapt to meet new challenges. As this national health crisis unfolds, caregivers should lower the standards for timeliness (say, having your loved one dressed by 10 a.m. instead of 8 a.m.) and meticulousness of care (teeth brushed after every meal) that they may have carefully crafted over time and, like a jazz musician who uses a familiar melody as a jumping-off point for artistic exploration, improvise something fresh and new.

A quick and easy way to make a glass tumbler or container no-slip is to place rubber bands around the outside to help the hand get a better grip.  

  An excerpt from Barry J. Jacobs:    Meditation comes in many types but has three common elements — deep breathing, focused concentration, and an increased, not decreased, awareness of what is going on inside and outside of us at any given moment. It has been shown to ground the family caregivers who regularly practice it in the present — rather than worrying about the future or regretting the past — and create a greater sense of calm.   In a paradoxical way, meditation is a way to regain a feeling of control. Feeling calmer and more fully aware of the present creates greater acceptance of its current circumstances. That greater acceptance creates a different sense of control, one that's based on handling what is, and not fretting about what isn't. Caregivers who can endure this pandemic and trust that they are doing their utmost — with its limitations — will be more clear-headed, content and effective.

  Ever try this for your loved one? Place post-it around the house for reminders on daily activities.

  Need help finding local resources during the Pandemic...check out this resource that AARP is offering. You can get the contact information you need by state!    

During the pandemic here are some tips on maintaining your personal safety and self-care...   • In order to be safe and stay healthy, limit contact with visitors, stay in as much as you can and continue to follow guidelines from the CDC. While most of us are very focused on the person we are caring for, it is essential to also care for yourself.   • For high risk individuals, such as those with dementia and underlying health conditions, consider having the primary caregiver self-isolate with the care recipient.   • Make sure to have a back-up plan should you get ill as the primary caregiver.