Relax standards and improvise

[AARPMichaelP]

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.