Try: Establish a meeting place ask local library if there is a meeting room available ask local college or university if they would be willing to host the group and provide a meeting place make a flyer about the group post flyers at doctor offices businesses near the group’s meeting place and medical equipment businesses post flyer in community events section of local newspaper ask local radio stations to include the group meeting

Materials: Computer with ms word and power point

Categories: Sage, Topic, Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: In their community events announcements develop a power point slide show about the group and ask the local cable channel to air it on the public access channel ask a local medical professional who knows a lot about cg issues to be the guest speaker at the first meeting to make the first meeting a big one information

References: Adapted from how to start a caregiver support group for the disabled by rhomylly forbes ehow com

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Interview several candidates in person before hiring be specific about the tasks that are needed make a list be specific about what hours the person will be working and the pay ask the candidates if they are comfortable performing these tasks ask open-ended questions to get a feel for the person’s experience and competence with these tasks for example can you tell me about your experience working with someone who has memory loss when hiring someone who is not employed by a home health agency make a contract that states the tasks payment procedures and termination procedures when hiring someone from a home health agency find out what is covered in a contract are there additional fees that apply to specific services or add-ons if needed what are the procedures for termination or requesting another person check

Materials: Note pad and pen

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: Carefully do background checks on top candidates don’t be afraid to move on if it’s not the right fit information references a adapted from www helpguide org – home care services for seniors

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Ask people to take on buddy roles if the cr likes to garden or do other outdoor activities near his or her home ask a neighbor to check in on the cr don’t take on all of the care giving make a schedule that includes friends or family members stopping by to help or just to visit let family and neighbors know when you will not be at the cr’s home be direct with people the cg needs help from assign specific tasks to others like driving the cr to shop for groceries or run errands

Materials: Pen and paper

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support, Medical Physical, Social, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Carry a card in your wallet that says i am the caregiver for name of the cr at cr cr’s address please call name of family member or friend at telephone number and inform himor her of my location and situation buy a medical necklace or bracelet with enough room to engrave the same

Materials: Small index card medical necklace or bracelet blank sticker

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: Wear the alert necklace or bracelet at all times attach a permanent sticker to the cg’s refrigerator with the same information make a note on the sticker that emergency personnel should not leave the cr alone information

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

*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 yellow pages take the yellow pages 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: Yellow pages phone book directory 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 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 sitation to relatives and friends this will save alot of phone calls electronic mail can also 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 hsopital 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: # use baby monitors in the different areas of the house # look for baby monitors at garage sales # encourage cr to use monitor to call out to the cg when he she needs help # monitor sounds to alert cg to falls or other accidents

Materials: # baby monitors

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Try to get a little family history to have a conversation starter with the cr always ask the cr how he she would like to be addressed – mr mrs miss or by first name let cr know how the cg would like to be addressed also be respectful and use good manners

Materials: n/a

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: # many care facilities offer a respite stay program for a limited time check into all of the details of the program # check and compare the programs at different places before making a decision # if a respite stay is not an option try to find a quiet room or corner of a room where the cg can have some undisturbed time without the noise of the care recipient’s tv or other everyday distracting noises

Materials: # respite stay program # quiet room

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: # keep a journal and list the different situations and solutions that work for the cr

Materials: n/a

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Remember that your responsibility as a cg is to provide support and assistance remember that you are not responsible for changing the cr’s behaviors or personality remember that the cr’s condition existed before you got involved in caregiving and would likely continue even if you weren’t around remember that you are making a difference in the cr cr’s quality of life focus on helping the cr adjust to the current situation try to modify or reduce frequency and severity of problem behaviors in the cr find a comfortable way to live with uncertainty take time to think about how you have helped the cr make a list take breaks when you can for example while the cr is napping ask for help when you feel overwhelmed

Materials: n/a

Categories: Caregiver Needs&Support

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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