As discussed in previous posts, accepting a few hours of caregiving help can decrease the stress and burden of care. Once you make the decision, what can you do to prepare for regular caregiver help. Here are suggestions to help you prepare for home health care:
1. Make a list of clearly written emergency phone numbers: police, fire department, ambulance, physicians, dentist, and other health care providers, pharmacist, home and work number of grown children, number of a close neighbor.
2. Make a list of helpful phone numbers: the market, library, repairmen, clergymen, other relatives and grandchildren, friends.
3. Make a list of your loved one's likes and dislikes including food preferences, TV programs, hobbies/activities of interest, outings, and routines.
4. Make a list of all medications and the times they are to be taken. (Note: Home health aides do not administer medications. They can, however, remind patients when to take their medications.)
5. Make a list of what you would like accomplished on a daily basis, such as eating meals, bathing, changing clothes, an exercise regime, getting outdoors.
6. Put a baby monitor next to your loved one's bed or buy a telephone with an intercom so that he can easily call for help.
7. If your loved one needs help moving from bed to chair or to the bathroom, seek recommendations from the home care agency about the appropriate (if needed) equipment that will make home care easier -- electric bed, wheelchairs, walkers, bed rails.
8. Make sure the home health care giver has a place to put her belongings.
9. Make a list of reminders of certain "house rules" such as religious observances, and other concerns you or your parent might have. You can expect that caregivers will never smoke or drink alcohol in your home.
10. Encourage a good relationship between your loved one and the health care giver. Allow the care giver to express her own ways of doing things and her own needs.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Friday, November 23, 2007
Speaking to Someone Who is Speech Impaired
Speech can become impaired as a result of illness such as Stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease or head injury. The following suggestions will help both the caregiver and the person being cared for less anxious and frustrated about changes in the ability to communicate.
1. Speak slowly and clearly. Don't raise your voice as hearing has not been affected. Speak in a normal tone of voice.
2. Limit distractions. Sit close to the person in a quiet setting in order to avoid unnecessary strain or frustration.
3. Ask questions so that the answer is either yes or no. For example, instead of saying "what do you want for breakfast"? ask "Would you like cereal today?". If he or she responds with a "no", ask another question to determine choice.
4. Encourage the person receiving care to closely watch the speaker's lips to help pick up clues to what is being said.
5. Ask the speaker to repeat what she said if you did not understand it. It may help if you encourage him or her to speak a little slower so that words are more concise.
6. Limit the time of your conversations so as not to tire the person.
7. Provide paper and pencil if necessary.
8. Demonstrate your willingness to take the time and make the effort to communicate.
9. Provide encouragement for the person to speak.
10. Do not lose your patience.
11. Don't supply words. One of the easiest pitfalls is to try to anticipate the next word the person is going to use and supply it.
12. Don't correct the person's communication attempts. Be accepting of errors, and understand that speech and language will improve with time and proper training. Don't say, "No, that's wrong," but "Let's try that again."
13. Discourage the person from remaining alone all day. When possible, a person should have opportunities to interact with others, in order to see that they can be accepted and can enjoy life despite their speaking difficulties.
14. Speak to a frail elderly person as an adult and not a child. Speaking down to the elderly may create feelings that could lead to frustration and depression, or resentment against you.
15. Give positive reinforcement (verbal and nonverbal) of the person's progress.
1. Speak slowly and clearly. Don't raise your voice as hearing has not been affected. Speak in a normal tone of voice.
2. Limit distractions. Sit close to the person in a quiet setting in order to avoid unnecessary strain or frustration.
3. Ask questions so that the answer is either yes or no. For example, instead of saying "what do you want for breakfast"? ask "Would you like cereal today?". If he or she responds with a "no", ask another question to determine choice.
4. Encourage the person receiving care to closely watch the speaker's lips to help pick up clues to what is being said.
5. Ask the speaker to repeat what she said if you did not understand it. It may help if you encourage him or her to speak a little slower so that words are more concise.
6. Limit the time of your conversations so as not to tire the person.
7. Provide paper and pencil if necessary.
8. Demonstrate your willingness to take the time and make the effort to communicate.
9. Provide encouragement for the person to speak.
10. Do not lose your patience.
11. Don't supply words. One of the easiest pitfalls is to try to anticipate the next word the person is going to use and supply it.
12. Don't correct the person's communication attempts. Be accepting of errors, and understand that speech and language will improve with time and proper training. Don't say, "No, that's wrong," but "Let's try that again."
13. Discourage the person from remaining alone all day. When possible, a person should have opportunities to interact with others, in order to see that they can be accepted and can enjoy life despite their speaking difficulties.
14. Speak to a frail elderly person as an adult and not a child. Speaking down to the elderly may create feelings that could lead to frustration and depression, or resentment against you.
15. Give positive reinforcement (verbal and nonverbal) of the person's progress.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
When Your Loved One is Hard of Hearing: What to Tell Visiting Family
Hearing loss occurs for a variety of reasons. While it can be a normal part of the aging process, hearing loss frequently occurs due to exposure to noises associated with occupational exposure.
It can be difficult for visiting family members to communicate well with a person who is hearing impaired. Encourage them with these suggestions so that they can have a worthwhile visit:
1. Always be sure to get the person's attention before speaking.
2. Position yourself so that the person can see your face clearly.
3. Speak clearly, slowly, in good lighting, and directly facing the hearing-impaired person.
4. Form words carefully and keep sentences relatively short.
5. Lower the pitch of your voice. Also adjust telephone rings, doorbells, and emergency alarms to a low tone.
6. Avoid unnecessary chatter that may confuse the person. Try to reduce distractions in the immediate environment.
7. Use facial expressions or gestures appropriately to help express yourself. Visual clues are important in helping the hearing-impaired person understand what you say.
8. Check to make sure the person understands what you are saying. Rephrase your message if necessary, and try to give more clues. (For example, instead of saying, "The nurse will be dropping by this afternoon to see you," rephrase as, "Your nurse, Mom, will be coming here at 3 o'clock to check on you.")
9. Avoid chewing gum and placing your hands by your mouth when you speak.
10. Demonstrate your willingness to take the time and energy to communicate with the person.
11. Do not lose your patience.
12. Learn in which ear the person has better hearing and try to speak to that side.
13. Don't shout. Shouting only increases non-intelligible sounds. Increasing the loudness only distorts what the person hears.
14. Do not speak in places where background noise such as traffic or many persons talking at once can interfere with hearing.
15. Don't speak too softly, run words together, or look away from the listener while speaking.
Here are some other don'ts that can interfere with lip-reading:
1. Don't exaggerate.
2. Don't speak too fast.
3. Don't speak in poorly lit areas.
4. Don't speak with something in your mouth - pencil, food, gum, cigarette.
It can be difficult for visiting family members to communicate well with a person who is hearing impaired. Encourage them with these suggestions so that they can have a worthwhile visit:
1. Always be sure to get the person's attention before speaking.
2. Position yourself so that the person can see your face clearly.
3. Speak clearly, slowly, in good lighting, and directly facing the hearing-impaired person.
4. Form words carefully and keep sentences relatively short.
5. Lower the pitch of your voice. Also adjust telephone rings, doorbells, and emergency alarms to a low tone.
6. Avoid unnecessary chatter that may confuse the person. Try to reduce distractions in the immediate environment.
7. Use facial expressions or gestures appropriately to help express yourself. Visual clues are important in helping the hearing-impaired person understand what you say.
8. Check to make sure the person understands what you are saying. Rephrase your message if necessary, and try to give more clues. (For example, instead of saying, "The nurse will be dropping by this afternoon to see you," rephrase as, "Your nurse, Mom, will be coming here at 3 o'clock to check on you.")
9. Avoid chewing gum and placing your hands by your mouth when you speak.
10. Demonstrate your willingness to take the time and energy to communicate with the person.
11. Do not lose your patience.
12. Learn in which ear the person has better hearing and try to speak to that side.
13. Don't shout. Shouting only increases non-intelligible sounds. Increasing the loudness only distorts what the person hears.
14. Do not speak in places where background noise such as traffic or many persons talking at once can interfere with hearing.
15. Don't speak too softly, run words together, or look away from the listener while speaking.
Here are some other don'ts that can interfere with lip-reading:
1. Don't exaggerate.
2. Don't speak too fast.
3. Don't speak in poorly lit areas.
4. Don't speak with something in your mouth - pencil, food, gum, cigarette.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Reduce the Chance of the Flu and Other Illnesses
As the weather gets colder, we spend most of our time inside. Close contact with others increases the chances of getting the flu, colds, and other illnesses. It's important to take preventative measures to reduce the risk of getting the person you are caring for ill, or becoming ill yourself. These recommendations are important for the caregiver AND person requiring care to follow:
Wash your hands and your loved one's hands frequently. It is important to wash thoroughly before working in the kitchen and after handling soiled or contaminated materials and after using the bathroom. Pay attention to cleaning around the nailbeds and underneath nails as these are good places for germs to hang out.
Clean counters, tables and shelves where food is prepared and stored. Food may be contaminated if it is placed on soiled work areas or in unclean containers.
Keep foods covered. Close cartons and replace covers to prevent contamination or infestation by bugs. All perishable foods should be stored in the refrigerator, especially cooked foods.
Dispose of garbage. Drain off liquid before putting it in a paper or plastic-lined pail. Roll or wrap garbage in paper and place outside in large, covered can each day.
Recyclable containers such as tin cans and bottles should be rinsed out to destroy odors and discourage insects and small rodents - such as rats and mice which are great carriers of disease. Wash garbage cans, dirty water pails and trash cans with hot, soapy water.
Clean all areas of the bathroom carefully, especially around the toilet. The warmth and moisture of the bathroom are easy places for germs to grow.
Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Droplets released into the air can spread the flu and cold as a person breathes in the air. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
Put used tissues into the waste basket immediately so that others don't pick them up and use them. Keep a paper bag or waste basket close by to place used tissues in.
Cover open sores or cuts on the fingers or hands with clean bandages and wear disposable gloves. If these sores are slightly infected, serious infection could be transmitted while handling food.
Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Rest is a requirement for a healthy immune system which will help you fight off infection.
Eat a well-balanced diet and supplement your diet with a multivitamin with minerals daily to boost your immune system.
Research has also shown that daily exercise will also help your immune system fight off illness.
Wash your hands and your loved one's hands frequently. It is important to wash thoroughly before working in the kitchen and after handling soiled or contaminated materials and after using the bathroom. Pay attention to cleaning around the nailbeds and underneath nails as these are good places for germs to hang out.
Clean counters, tables and shelves where food is prepared and stored. Food may be contaminated if it is placed on soiled work areas or in unclean containers.
Keep foods covered. Close cartons and replace covers to prevent contamination or infestation by bugs. All perishable foods should be stored in the refrigerator, especially cooked foods.
Dispose of garbage. Drain off liquid before putting it in a paper or plastic-lined pail. Roll or wrap garbage in paper and place outside in large, covered can each day.
Recyclable containers such as tin cans and bottles should be rinsed out to destroy odors and discourage insects and small rodents - such as rats and mice which are great carriers of disease. Wash garbage cans, dirty water pails and trash cans with hot, soapy water.
Clean all areas of the bathroom carefully, especially around the toilet. The warmth and moisture of the bathroom are easy places for germs to grow.
Cover the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Droplets released into the air can spread the flu and cold as a person breathes in the air. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
Put used tissues into the waste basket immediately so that others don't pick them up and use them. Keep a paper bag or waste basket close by to place used tissues in.
Cover open sores or cuts on the fingers or hands with clean bandages and wear disposable gloves. If these sores are slightly infected, serious infection could be transmitted while handling food.
Get at least 7-8 hours of sleep. Rest is a requirement for a healthy immune system which will help you fight off infection.
Eat a well-balanced diet and supplement your diet with a multivitamin with minerals daily to boost your immune system.
Research has also shown that daily exercise will also help your immune system fight off illness.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Storing Medications Safely
Proper storage of medication is important to prevent accidental poisonings and misuse. The following recommendations can assist you in safe medication management for your loved one.
1. Keep medications out reach of children or anyone who might misuse them.
2. Check to see which medications need refrigeration. Make sure they are stored where they will not freeze and where children cannot easily reach them.
3. Store medications away from light and heat, which can effect their chemical composition.
4. Make sure the person taking the medication can read the label clearly.
5. Keep medications in the same place in the medicine cabinet or storage area.
6. Make a schedule for the person taking the medication so that it becomes routine.
7. Dispose of a medication if it has no label, if the label cannot be read clearly, or if the medicine is outdated.
8. Be sure that medications that look like water or soft drinks are labeled so that no one else drinks them.
9. Keep an available list of important telephone numbers of family members, the poison control center, the rescue squad, and the family doctor.
10. Take care of how you dispose of unused or outdated medications in the presence of children and the elderly.
1. Keep medications out reach of children or anyone who might misuse them.
2. Check to see which medications need refrigeration. Make sure they are stored where they will not freeze and where children cannot easily reach them.
3. Store medications away from light and heat, which can effect their chemical composition.
4. Make sure the person taking the medication can read the label clearly.
5. Keep medications in the same place in the medicine cabinet or storage area.
6. Make a schedule for the person taking the medication so that it becomes routine.
7. Dispose of a medication if it has no label, if the label cannot be read clearly, or if the medicine is outdated.
8. Be sure that medications that look like water or soft drinks are labeled so that no one else drinks them.
9. Keep an available list of important telephone numbers of family members, the poison control center, the rescue squad, and the family doctor.
10. Take care of how you dispose of unused or outdated medications in the presence of children and the elderly.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Helping a Loved One With Limited Vision
Fading vision is very common in the elderly, yet many seniors are unaware of the changes in their eyesight. Older people need three times as much light as young people. They have trouble seeing in dim light, and can't readily focus on moving objects or distinguish colors and shapes. The inability to see clearly can lead to a safety hazard. With a few adjustments, a person's daily living can certainly be brighter.
Here are 15 tips on how to help a person with poor eyesight:
1. Brighten the entire living area, especially stairways, hallways, and places where the person reads.
2. Distribute light evenly in all rooms.
3. Put night lights in the bedroom, hallway and bathroom.
4. Put reflector tape on the edges of stairs to make them easier to see.
5. Make sure light switches are at the entrances to all rooms.
6. Install lights that automatically turn on at dusk.
7. Write notes in large dark letters.
8. Suggest a larger television or an easier-to-view black-and-white TV.
9. Buy lubricating eye drops that help prevent dryness, which makes eyes itch and burn.
10. Wear bright colors when you visit.
11. Provide large-print books, newspapers, and magazines.
12. Decrease glare by covering shiny surfaces and adding blinds or shades to windows with bright sunlight.
13. Check to see that certain medications are not the cause of blurred vision.
14. For persons who are unable to enjoy reading on their own, provide books on tape.
15. Provide sunglasses with 100% UV protection to cut down on glare.
Here are 15 tips on how to help a person with poor eyesight:
1. Brighten the entire living area, especially stairways, hallways, and places where the person reads.
2. Distribute light evenly in all rooms.
3. Put night lights in the bedroom, hallway and bathroom.
4. Put reflector tape on the edges of stairs to make them easier to see.
5. Make sure light switches are at the entrances to all rooms.
6. Install lights that automatically turn on at dusk.
7. Write notes in large dark letters.
8. Suggest a larger television or an easier-to-view black-and-white TV.
9. Buy lubricating eye drops that help prevent dryness, which makes eyes itch and burn.
10. Wear bright colors when you visit.
11. Provide large-print books, newspapers, and magazines.
12. Decrease glare by covering shiny surfaces and adding blinds or shades to windows with bright sunlight.
13. Check to see that certain medications are not the cause of blurred vision.
14. For persons who are unable to enjoy reading on their own, provide books on tape.
15. Provide sunglasses with 100% UV protection to cut down on glare.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
When You Meet Resistance to Help at Home
When the time comes for you to realistically consider home health care for loved ones who can no longer safely live on their own, it is normal to meet resistance to the offer of help. The people who need care the most are often resistant to giving up their independence and autonomy, as they perceive it. This is understandable. Rather than arguing, stand back and try to offer appropriate responses that acknowledge how they are feeling and provide suggestions to alleviate their fears.
Here are some suggestions for resistance to home health care you may encounter:
1. When your loved one says, "I don't need any help," point out how overwhelmed she gets doing normal household chores; or how she forgets to renew important prescriptions, or how she has set off the smoke alarm several times in a month, or any other specific examples. Then tell her how much more comfortable and less confusing her life would be with help. Show her that help would enable her to stay in her home as long as possible.
2. When your parent says, "I like things done my way. I'm the only one who knows what to give your father to eat," tell her she can be involved in supervising the health care giver.
3. When your loved one says, "I don't want a stranger in my house," allay her fears by staying over one or two days and by popping in to see how things are at different hours of the day and night when caregivers are scheduled.
4. When your parent says, "I'm not throwing away my savings when I can manage on my own," contact her accountant or financial planner to assure her that she can afford help. Also discuss the fact that the savings were meant for times when help would be needed.
5. When your loved one says, "I won't have any of those people in my house," discuss the matter of prejudice and urge her simply to give the home health care giver a try.
6. When your parent says, "Absolutely no," contact the home care agency and arrange a home visit with another senior who is happy with her care giver. Seeing a positive situation is always good motivation.
7. Encourage your loved one to express her fears and concerns about what is happening.
8. Discuss what would happen if she won't let people help her. Let her experience a day without your help -- no meals, soiled clothing -- so that she sees that she needs regular assistance.
9. Slowly introduce your parent to outside services. For example, arrange to have someone deliver her meals or do her shopping. A kind, compassionate person coming into her home may earn her trust and prepare her to be open to further assistance.
10. If the situation requires immediate attention, consider hiring a geriatric care manager who has the expertise to help your loved one accept assistance.
Here are some suggestions for resistance to home health care you may encounter:
1. When your loved one says, "I don't need any help," point out how overwhelmed she gets doing normal household chores; or how she forgets to renew important prescriptions, or how she has set off the smoke alarm several times in a month, or any other specific examples. Then tell her how much more comfortable and less confusing her life would be with help. Show her that help would enable her to stay in her home as long as possible.
2. When your parent says, "I like things done my way. I'm the only one who knows what to give your father to eat," tell her she can be involved in supervising the health care giver.
3. When your loved one says, "I don't want a stranger in my house," allay her fears by staying over one or two days and by popping in to see how things are at different hours of the day and night when caregivers are scheduled.
4. When your parent says, "I'm not throwing away my savings when I can manage on my own," contact her accountant or financial planner to assure her that she can afford help. Also discuss the fact that the savings were meant for times when help would be needed.
5. When your loved one says, "I won't have any of those people in my house," discuss the matter of prejudice and urge her simply to give the home health care giver a try.
6. When your parent says, "Absolutely no," contact the home care agency and arrange a home visit with another senior who is happy with her care giver. Seeing a positive situation is always good motivation.
7. Encourage your loved one to express her fears and concerns about what is happening.
8. Discuss what would happen if she won't let people help her. Let her experience a day without your help -- no meals, soiled clothing -- so that she sees that she needs regular assistance.
9. Slowly introduce your parent to outside services. For example, arrange to have someone deliver her meals or do her shopping. A kind, compassionate person coming into her home may earn her trust and prepare her to be open to further assistance.
10. If the situation requires immediate attention, consider hiring a geriatric care manager who has the expertise to help your loved one accept assistance.
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