Caregiving Connect

This is a tricky one, but if well received the first time by a care recipient, it can be a go-to solution sometimes.   Depending on the person and the mood or behavior, see if you can find a way to soothe your person with touch. Offer to comb or brush the hair (this even works with men who have very little hair). Offer to massage the hands with lotion or baby oil or massage oil, especially some substance that has a nice relaxing aroma. And best of all but trickiest at first, offer to give a foot massage. With permission, take off shoes and socks, place the feet or one foot at a time on a pillow covered with a towel, and rub the feed gently with oil. Massage the top of the foot, carefully between the toes, the heel, the arch and ball of the foot. Massage away the stress. The skin is a marvelous source of pleasure and sensation, and even a brief rubbing can provide a calming, soothing effect 

With home care turnover being too high there are changes agencies can make to reduce turnover.   Gamify the work experience   Caregivers rely on their smartphones throughout the day, especially since they spend their day in the field with patients. It’s important they can manage their schedules, take training courses, and document right on their phones. Finding the right technology to make this experience both easy, engaging and fun is key in caregiver retention.    Leaders can use positive reinforcement techniques through the smartphone experience by:   Using gaming techniques through the agency’s caregiver app to incentivize caregivers. Give designated points for clocking in and out, taking educational courses, or offering positive suggestions. Allow caregivers to repurpose their earned points for prizes and benefits.   Tip credit: Levi Pavlovsky

As we have learned from our new normal self care is just as important as anything else!   Lee Woodruff asked caregivers what at home mini-recharge pointers they use or are still using during the pandemic and here is one that was helpful for them:   A needlepoint or knitting project   See below for more tips and stay tuned for more:   Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #1 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #2 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #4 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #5 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #6 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #7 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #8 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #9 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #10 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #11 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #12 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #13

With home care turnover being too high there are changes agencies can make to reduce turnover.   Trust and respect   Caregivers are seasoned professionals who are ready for responsibilities that go beyond patient care. Unfortunately, leaders are desensitized to high turnover rates and end up treating caregivers as disposable workers that come and go. This approach leads to supervisors not taking time to grow their caregivers through training or additional responsibilities. Agency leaders can begin to give trust and responsibilities to their caregivers by:   Eliminating a dictated schedule. Instead, allow caregivers access to technology that gives them the opportunity to schedule their own shifts, making them feel empowered and trusted.  Making ongoing education easy. Caregivers are ready to learn new tools and interventions to serve their patients better. Give them the technology that allows them to get training on-demand right on their smartphones. Begin

As we have learned from our new normal self care is just as important as anything else!   Lee Woodruff asked caregivers what at home mini-recharge pointers they use or are still using during the pandemic and here is one that was helpful for them:   A paint-by-numbers kit that can be worked on during free time   See others below and Stay tuned for more!   Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #1 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #3 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #4 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #5 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #6 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #7 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #8 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #9 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #10 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #11 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #12 Recharging Your Caregiving Energ

Moving has so many tasks that must be seen to. Changing the address of your parent or other care-receiving person starts with deciding what address to use. Is the person moving into assisted living or a continuing care retirement community, or 'nursing home' and not just for a short stay for rehab? or into your home? Easy if its to your home. It might take a while to get through to Social Security but if you keep on hold, you can do it. You'll be on hold to SSA if he or she is going to a facility, too.  Make a list of all the businesses and organizations that are important for her or him, and change the address as you go. If the bank needs a power of attorney form and your loved one is still able to make financial decisions, go with him or her to the bank, and fill out the form right there. The bank will have a notary, too. If there are many banks and funds, just keep going through them. If there are bank accounts that could be closed, it's time to simplify. If you need help

As we have learned from our new normal self care is just as important as anything else!   Lee Woodruff asked caregivers what at home mini-recharge pointers they use or are still using during the pandemic and here is one that was helpful for them:   A 15-minute meditative self-manicure   See below and stay tuned for more!   Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #2 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #3 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #4 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #5 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #6 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #7 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #8 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #9 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #10 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #11 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #12 Recharging Your Caregiving Energy in 15 Minutes - #13 Recharging Your

One of the most common questions I get from family caregivers who are struggling financially as they care for loved ones is, "Can I get paid to care for my family member?". It's a good question, and there are a few ways to do this: A family member can pay from their own private funds - there is no reason they can't pay you, or other family members could chip in to pay you. Just be sure to check with your accountant and/or attorney to see if it can be viewed as a gift or if any taxes that may need to be paid. If your loved one is a Veteran you may be able to be paid through the VA if he/she is eligible - There are some programs from the VA that pay family caregivers to provide care, but they may be limited to the time of service, type of service and whether your loved one has a service-related injury. I encourage you to contact the VA Caregiver Support Program at www.caregiver.va.gov or call 1-855-260-3274 to find out.If your loved one is eligible for Medicaid you may be

This handle fits in the u shaped metal thing that is visible when your car is open. You put this handle in that metal loop, and you have something to rest your weight on when you get up and out of the car. Great for people who just don't have the oomph they used to. This one also has a light, and can be used to smash the window if you're stuck inside and the electric window isn't working. Heck, if you ask it real nice, i bet it would walk your dog... https://www.amazon.com/Elderly-Portable-Seatbelt-Flashlight-Automotive/dp/B08RDHVHK5/ref=asc_df_B08RDHVHK5/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=485450968700&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13934463707982484850&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033145&hvtargid=pla-1156127054826&psc=1

When managing your own or a loved one's medications, there is a relatively simple way to keep track of what is taken routinely and which are for short term, like antibiotics.    When you or your care-recipient finishes a medication, put the empty bottle in a see through zip lock bag, and if there were any side effects, write them on a piece of paper and put in the bottle. "Constipation for 3 days", or "sleepiness."  Before you put the pill bottle in the bag, call in the refill with 3 to 5 workdays in advance so the pharmacy and the prescribing provider can get to it right away. If it is a short term drug, you can write down: "for gout flare" in a bottle of prednisone, for example, or "tooth abscess infection" on a bottle of antibiotics. When you have an appointment with the primary care provider or a specialist, grab the bag. If there are duplicates, like 3 empty bottles of metformin, pitch out the oldest empty bottles.   You and your providers will be glad to have

If a parent passes away or becomes unable to take care of people who depended on them, you may need to take on additional caregiving roles. This includes assuming responsibility for adult children with special needs. Make sure that child gets every available benefit, such as SSDI, local and state disability, special education programs and transportation assistance.   You may also need to assume oversight of benefits of the surviving spouse, too, by making sure he or she is the beneficiary of your loved one's IRA, bank account, life insurance policy and pension benefits. Your loved one may have also made a plan for pets in their will and set aside money to pay for their care.   Below you can find other legal checklist items for family caregivers:   A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #1: Have the right documents A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #2: Make a family plan A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #3: Organize important papers A legal Checklist for Fam

According to Stanley Weiss, M.D., an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, for some, second vaccine doses can hit hard!   So, when you or your loved one gets a second vaccine shot you may be feeling some symptoms for a few days. Beware of this and plan accordingly!

Investigate public benefits such as Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), Medicare and Medicaid. Online tools like AARP Foundation's Local Assistance Directory and the National Council on Aging's Benefits Checkup can help you find local, state and federal programs you qualify for.   Also, examine your loved one's insurance and retirement plans, including (where applicable) life insurance, disability coverage, pension benefits, long-term care insurance and workplace health insurance. See whether any of them cover home health visits, skilled nursing, mental health services, or physical therapy and other short-term assistance.   If you need to take a leave of absence from your job to care for a loved one, you may be entitled to up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave unde

Most people don't realize how many legal documents they already have, or how many they will need for matters that arise. Important ones include:   birth certificate marriage certificate divorce decree citizenship papers death certificate of a spouse or parent power(s) of attorney deeds to property deeds to cemetery plots military discharge papers insurance policies pension benefits Organize these documents into files that are easy to navigate.   Below you can find other legal checklist items for family caregivers:   A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #1: Have the right documents A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #2: Make a family plan A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #4: Explore potential financial help A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #5: Look for tax breaks and life insurance deals A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #6: Think beyond your loved one

I have been thinking about this. My assumption is that it is safer, but that you should proceed with caution. What is the right way to go about this?

Discuss caregiving matters with all involved members of your family. Put in writing who will be responsible for which caregiving roles — and have all parties sign.   This is not a legal document, but it will help keep peace within the family by making everyone's role clear. The biggest precursor of legal problems is bad communication.   Below you can find other legal checklist items for family caregivers:   A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #1: Have the right documents A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #3: Organize important papers A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #4: Explore potential financial help A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #5: Look for tax breaks and life insurance deals A legal Checklist for Family Caregivers #6: Think beyond your loved one

Our #1 tip is to have the right documents:   In addition to a will, make sure your loved one has a durable power of attorney (POA) for both health care and financial affairs. These legal documents will allow an appointed person to make medical or fiscal decisions for a frail or incapacitated relative.   Your loved one needs to create these documents when he or she is still capable of making decisions. It's not necessary to hire an attorney to draft a health care power of attorney (though depending on your state, you may need two witnesses), but it's advisable to use a lawyer to draw up a financial POA because money issues can be complicated.   The health care POA is part of an advance directive. The other part is a living will, which spells out your wishes for care if you have a serious illness — for example, whether and when life-sustaining treatment should be stopped.   Below you can find other legal checklist items for family caregivers:   A l

Are you doing everything possible to minimize risks to residents? • Don’t visit if you feel ill, even if the symptoms are mild.• Don’t visit if you’ve had close contact with someone with COVID-19 in the previoustwo weeks.• Keep visits short — and stay outdoors, if possible.• Consider a virtual visit instead.

Do say: “It was great to see you.”   To engage unsupportive siblings in the caregiving effort, it is necessary to make it a gratifying experience for them. Having a harmonious holiday dinner, full of laughs and free of acrimony, is an important step in that direction. As the table is being cleared and coats are being retrieved, let them know that you and Mom genuinely enjoyed seeing them and would love for them to be a more integral part of your lives.   Excerpt by Barry Jacobs

Don’t say: “You should visit more often.”   As many of us can attest, guilt is a powerful motivator. But it also creates unpleasant feelings. Even if the brothers do come back before the next holiday, they will do so reluctantly — fearful that they’ll get another guilt-inducing lecture. In the end, they will find reasons to stay away.   Excerpt by Barry Jacobs

With the pandemic and other issues in the news coming at us this year, it could be easy to get dragged down into negativity about the holidays. That's why my next tip is:   Mind Your Holiday Mindset   Negative thinking actually activates your body's stress response, so steer your mind to the positives when you start down that slippery slope. Try to stay mindful, concentrating on the present moment. It does take a conscious effort sometimes, to willfully re-direct our minds from the fearful and negative thoughts. But over time I find it gets easier. Focus on what you can accomplish and experience instead of what you can't do this year or what isn’t getting done due to caregiving. Play those things up - FULLY experience them and relish every moment. Celebrate what your loved ones can do, rather than dwelling on what they can no longer participate in. The pandemic may limit things they can do and their health conditions may also limit their abilities, so zer

What protective and social-distancing measures are in place, in accordancewith federal guidelines?   • Do I have to wear a mask? Will the nursing home provide one for me?• Is hand sanitizer available on-site, or do I need to bring my own?• Do I have to stay 6 feet from my loved one?• Can I bring food or gifts for my loved one?

In addition to joy, any holiday can be fraught with tension, stress, sadness and grief. This year with the pandemic, all feelings are magnified. So my next tip is: Anticipate holiday hot buttons Are there holiday activities or toxic relatives that trigger stress or unhappy memories? Perhaps feelings of grief or loss overcome you at certain times of day or with certain holiday triggers. Are there disagreements about how to celebrate this year? Do unhelpful relatives arrive for the holidays and criticize your caregiving? Or maybe they arrive without checking with you first, and you are terrified they will put your loved ones' health and safety in jeopardy? Whether in person or on video chat, old family issues may flare up as we plan and carry out holiday activities.   It may be best to limit your exposure to — or even avoid — certain places, events, conversations or people. If you can't do that, prepare yourself. Minimize the drama. Just don't engage if it feels like ther

Do say: “What changes have you noticed with Mom’s walking, speaking and thinking since you were last here?”   It is better to appeal to the sibling’s own senses to help him grasp a parent’s decline. Even if that sibling persists in denying that there are any changes, he is likely to pay more attention to the parent’s functioning and eventually get a clue.   Excerpt by Barry Jacobs

Are visits restricted by time and place? • Do I need to make an appointment with the nursing home to visit a loved one?• Will visiting hours be restricted, or individual visits time-limited?• Can I request a schedule for when I can visit my loved one on a regular basis?• Can I go to my loved one’s room, or are visits limited to designated areas inside(or outside) the facility?• Can more than one person visit a resident at a time?• Who can I contact if I am denied a visit with my loved one?