Try: Use a different colored dot for the different times of day that each medication is taken and place the dot on the top of the pill bottle you could use red for each medicine that is taken in the morning yellow for each one that is taken at noon and blue for those taken in the evening write a short description of what the medicine is for on the dot such as water pill blood pressure cholesterol blood thinner heart etc

Materials: Self-stick colored circles that are available in the office supply aisle of discount stores – usually used to price items for garage sales

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Place crushed medications into a small amount of the cr’s favorite dessert this works even better when placed in a small cup with a spoon the cr feels rewarded with his or her own personal snack and doesn’t pay attention to the hidden meds

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, 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: Suggest the cr place rolled towels at the bottom of the doors place rolled towels at the bottom of windows draw blinds and curtains in all rooms get thick window shades suggest the cr buy wall hangings made of fabric encourage the cr to keep all bedroom doors closed assist cr with shopping for a warm sweater and thicker pants encourage the cr to drink warm liquids throughout the day encourage the cr to dress in layers and make use of blankets

Materials: Towels fabric decor blankets thicker pants sweater

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Encourage the cr to take a cool shower at the beginning and end of the day encourage the cr to dress in lightweight light colored clothing encourage the cr to wear a cool damp handkerchief around his or her neck put fans around the house encourage the cr to open windows at opposite ends of the home for maximum air flow encourage eating cool fruits and vegetables encourage the cr to use ovens and appliances in the evening pull down blinds curtains in rooms that have a lot of sunlight remove rugs over vinyl flooring encourage the cr to drink cold liquids throughout the day

Materials: Fans

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Place red tape around registers to alert the cr that they could be hot to touch remove clutter from the floor area especially stacked magazines and papers cover up any open fireplaces remove any portable space heaters use the poster board and markers to make caution signs or do not touch – hot signs put the signs on toasters toaster ovens stoves and any other household items that may be hot to touch if there are locks on inside doors make sure there is a key is hanging at the top of the door on the outside lock garages and sheds that contain dangerous tools and chemicals lock gates around swimming pools lock up medicines and alcohol remove non-food items from refrigerator such as jars of spices or cans of pet food put the color coded stickers on the water faucet handles with red for hot and blue for cold make sure there is a color contrast between walls and floors this may prevent the cr from running into the wall

Materials: Red tape poster board and markers small red or blue stickers locks or padlocks if needed

Categories: Medical Physical, 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: Make doorways to rooms easy to distinguish by painting the door frames a bright contrasting color or put a string of christmas lights around the door frame hallways are hard to negotiate sometimes because it is hard for the cr to see the difference between a tan carpet on the hallway floor from the tan walls of the hall itself try either painting the walls a different color from the floor or attach rope lighting along the bottom of the wall to make it easier for the cr to see this has the added benefit of being a nightlight as well

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, So-So Vision, Poor Vision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #provide nutritious snacks and meals at the same time each day and make this a regular routine sliced fruits and vegetables or instant meal supplements may improve nutrition #try four or five small meals rather than three large ones #let the cr feed himself or herself whenever possible use a straw or sippy cup if the cr has trouble holding a glass #allow plenty of time for meals #use a bib or smock to reduce worry about food on clothing #provide finger foods that are ready to eat so that the cr does not have to deal with the little details for example cut larger pieces of food into bite-size pieces; pre-season with salt and pepper; put condiments on the plate or food etc #turn off any entertainment if the cr’s attention is on that rather than eating #sit down and eat with the cr to make the atmosphere more pleasant the cr may also need to mimic the action of chewing and swallowing #prepare soft foods if dentures don’t fit well or there are other dental issues such as loose or missing teeth #consider adding a vitamin tablet daily if the cr cr’s nutrition through food remains poor however keep in mind that some medical conditions and medicines interact poorly with some vitamin supplements so think carefully before choosing vitamins or supplements

Materials: Straw or sippy cup healthy snacks smock or bib multi-vitamin

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, Some Supervision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Compile a list of emergency contact numbers and leave the list in several prominent places around the home one being on the nightstand of the cg first on the list should be names of someone to call who can come immediately and take over the temporary responsibility of care family members who are close should be next on the list and they can relay the

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: To members who live away there should be a plan for temporary care plan a which could include family member moving into cr’s home or cr moving into family member’s home plan b should be for long term care in case cg’s medical emergency should prove to be lengthy this should include research into and visiting long term care facilities to possibly choose one and put a name on a list in case an emergency care situation arises information

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Make the environment as safe as possible replace tension shower curtain rods with the screw-in type in case cr starts to slip while getting in or out of the tub or shower and grabs onto the curtain rod remove all throw rugs or runners check for curled or frayed carpet edges check to see if any metal threshold strips are loose keep all extension cords close to the walls and away from traffic areas make sure cr is not wearing ill fitting shoes which could cause tripping and falling make sure all handrails are secure provide adequate lighting even higher wattage bulbs in hallways or stairways check non-carpeted areas to make sure they are not slippery remove any obstacles such as footstools or plant stands out of traffic areas at certain times of the day glare from the windows could interfere with vision while walking check to make sure curtains or blinds are closed during those times

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: Go through the home and try to see the different areas as if you were somewhat mobility challenged difficulty with balance and your hands no longer had a lot of strength or flexibility also try to look at things as if you had a little bit of trouble with your vision or hearing check to make sure that the temperature of the home can be kept at a comfortable level – both cool enough in the summer and warm enough in the winter check power bills to make sure the heating and cooling is efficient if the bills are extraordinarily high possibly more insulation is needed check the filters on both the air conditioner and the furnace dirty filters will lower the efficiency of the units while raising the cost make sure that emergency phone numbers as well as numbers for family members friends and neighbors are posted by each phone in the home and that the type is large enough for the senior to see comfortably check to see if there is a peephole in the entry door so that the senior can see who is at the door before opening it make sure that the lock on the main door works easily so that the senior doesn’t have to jiggle the lock or the key to gain entrance to the home is the house adequately lit with switches that are easy for the senior to reach light bulbs should be fairly bright as seniors need more light to read or maneuver through the home check all floor coverings to make sure no floor tile is sticking up where the senior can trip or the carpet is coming loose in the entryway hunt for clutter that could cause the senior to trip and fall check for overloaded outlets and extension cords that could cause a fall if tripped over

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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