Try: Make several attempts to discuss the situation with the cr try different approaches and if one doesn’t work try something else be completely willing to hear the cr cr’s point of view in the discussions and use good listening skills if the cr continues to refuse talking to you remove yourself from the conversation talk with family members and find someone else who is willing to talk with the cr perhaps the other family member has more influence or better chemistry with the cr a minister doctor or close friend also may be able to get the cg to discuss the life circumstances and care changes needed some of these individuals may care about the cr but be less involved emotionally

Materials: n/a

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Cognitive Intellectual, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from information found in the book the complete eldercare planner by joy loverde

Keywords: Changes conversation decision making

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Becoming a new family caregiver may happen all of a sudden and catch you off guard you may not even know what you need to do or where to start the following list may give you a road map to follow so you can spring into action rather than continue to be overwhelmed and in gridlock educate yourself about the care recipient recipient’s cr cr’s issues and diagnoses the internet websites www mayoclinic com and www webmd com are good starting points find community resources that can help with your situation research options for living arrangements and health care services such as senior housing communities independent living assisted living skilled care and memory care in home health care nursing physical and occupational therapy dieticians etc hospice plan a family meeting that includes the cr to discuss any issues and develop an action plan make lists of the cr cr’s personal and financial documents make duplicate sets of keys to everything the cr owns house car garage etc research the benefits that the cr is entitled to health insurance disability social security etc be open and honest about your limitations as the caregiver ask for help when needed

Materials: n/a

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Communication, Financial, Legal

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from material found in the book caregiving the spiritual journey of love loss and renewal by beth witrogen mcleod

Keywords: Caregiving hospice living arrangements caregiver support

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Include the cr in the family meeting to discuss a plan of care decide who will be the primary and secondary caregivers let everyone share their opinion on the matters at hand discuss end of life issues medical financial and legal matters if family relationships are difficult call in a professional to help mediate

Materials: Copies of medical information pertaining to the Care recipient (cr) lists and phone numbers of doctors and medications pen paper

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Communication, Emotional Psychological, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical, Personal, Social

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from material found in the book caregiving the spiritual journey of love loss and renewal by beth witrogen mcleod

Keywords: Legal family financial end of life relationships

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Consult a lawyer about setting up a living trust durable power of attorney for health care and finances and other estate planning tools

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

Information: Swimming is an excellent aerobic activity that keeps weight off of arthritic joints allowing the cr to keep in shape without the pain of traditional exercise

References: home safety for people with alzheimer alzheimer’s disease by u s department of health and human services 2010 available at

Keywords: Estate planning finances legal back up plan

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Consult with family and close friends to decide who will take responsibility for cr seek

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Financial, Legal, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Cognitive Awareness, Somewhat Aware, Unaware, Long-Term Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: About local public guardian guardian’s office mental health conservator conservator’s office adult protective services or other case management services these organizations may have programs to assist cr in the care giver’s cg absence

References: home safety for people with alzheimer alzheimer’s disease by u s department of health and human services 2010 available at

Keywords: Back up plan care giver assistance community resources care management services

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Maintain a notebook for the responsible person who will assume caregiving such a notebook should contain the following

Materials: Notebook pen

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Maintenance, Medical Physical

Information: Emergency phone numbers current problem behaviors and possible solutions ways to calm cr assistance needed with toileting feeding or grooming favorite activities or food

References: home safety for people with alzheimer alzheimer’s disease by u s department of health and human services 2010 available at

Keywords: Back up plan care giver assistance care management

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: When you visit the cr get a copy of the local phone book with yellow pages take the phone book home for easy reference when the cr needs assistance in the future for example if the cr needs car repairs you can refer to the phone book to help the cr locate the local dealership or mechanic this same objective can be accomplished using a computer with an internet connection in fact you may get even better

Materials: Phone book with yellow pages in the cr cr’s area computer with an internet connection and electronic mail

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Communication

Information: Than the phone book for example the cr has moved to a new community and you want to help find a new doctor you can use the internet to find a nearby doctor doctor’s office try to find a doctor who is a good fit for the cr cr’s needs and p

References: You may even be able to find a doctor who works for the same medical group that the cr used previously this will make it easier since medical records ahd health insurance will already be on file many of the internet websites have biographies and or video interviews with the doctors this is the next best thing to meeting the doctor face to face you may get some perspective on the doctor doctor’s personality and bedside manner electronic mail can also provide an efficient and effective way to help out the cr even though you are not there in person for example the cr falls and breaks a hip and is in the hospital you can use electronic mail to provide periodic updates on the cr cr’s situation to relatives and friends this will save alot of phone calls electronic mail can be used to communicate with health care professionals the staff of senior housing communities and so on in the above example of the cr in the hospital with a broken hip you can use electronic mail to make arrangements for admission to a nursing home and relay important information about the cr to the physical therapy department there information references

Keywords: Long distance caregiving

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Reduce phone calls to the home add the phone number to the do not call registry 1-888-382-1222 or www donotcall gov try forwarding all of cr’s phone calls to a different phone number

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Emotional Psychological, Financial, Legal, Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: the consumer’s guide to home safety for seniors by society of certified senior advisors 2010 available at www csa us

Keywords: Phone scams crime living alone

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Talk to cr about his wants and needs make a list of these wants and needs review cr’s wants and needs and make a list of what is required ask each member of the family how they’d be willing to help determine who, family members friends neighbors, can handle various responsibilities stay in touch regularly to make sure everyone is still doing their part or if something needs to be reassigned

Materials: Pen and paper

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Communication, Financial, Legal, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal

Information: n/a

References: let’s talk a guide to navigating difficult discussions by homewatch care givers available at www homewatchcaregivers com

Keywords: Future driving transportation housing

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed

Try: Don’t get pulled into the power struggles with other family members or cgs don’t bring up complaints and don’t engage in a griping session someone else has started spare the cr from witnessing any bickering or feelings of indignation do your best to really listen to siblings’ and family members’ concerns incorporate them whenever possible keep an open mind about how family members and other cgs will respond they may respond badly if they think others expect them to

Materials: n/a

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support, Emotional Psychological, Legal, Maintenance, Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Immobile, Independence, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision

Information: n/a

References: let’s talk a guide to navigating difficult discussions by homewatch care givers available at www homewatchcaregivers com

Keywords: Family plan family meeting crisis

*This information is listed as a Tip and is not explicitly medically licensed