Try: #see that the cr gets adequate fluid especially water as too much caffeine may encourage dehydration alcohol has the same effect fruit juices and clear sodas may provide variety and may encourage the cr to drink more but water is essential #see that the cr eats well balanced meals deficiencies in a various vitamins may contribute to dry skin while vitamin supplements may be useful try first to achieve a well-balanced diet #make sure the cr’s clothing is loose enough that is will not rub roughly against the dry skin dress the cr in natural fabrics cotton silk or wool as much as possible these fabrics allow air and moisture to travel through them if picking all-natural clothing isn’t an option look for clothing made primarily with cotton check clothing labels inside collars and waistbands the materials used to make specific clothes are listed in order of greatest percentage #use moisturizing oils lotions or creams avoid those whose ingredients include alcohol #see a doctor if the cr’s skin becomes excessively dry or itchy the doctor may prescribe antihistamines oral steroids antibiotics medicated soaks lighting treatments or possibly oral immune-altering medication

Materials: Caffeine-free fluids lotions oils or creams moisturizing soaps

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, 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: #discuss with the cr the importance of twice-daily foot checks you or the cr must check the cr’s feet morning and night for redness unusual spots open sores bunions bumps or rashes #to perform the exams use a strong flashlight or natural light lamp to illuminate each foot expand the ability to see all parts of the foot particularly the sole with a hand mirror ask the cr to use his or her hands to feel all the surfaces of the feet for bumps rashes or sores you should also do this if you are doing the check checks must be done with the hands and the eyes as neuropathy limits a cr’s ability to feel discomfort or pain which would normally lead a person to discover an injury or to make an adjustment to avoid one #remind the cr not to walk barefoot keep slippers and shoes handy and make sure they fit well use all-cotton socks and socks made for diabetics with all closed shoes to avoid blisters or fungus when putting on socks smooth all the wrinkles out before slipping the foot into the shoe limit time in open shoes as foot injuries may take a long time to heal #if you do not provide daily care to the cr and you believe the cr cannot or will not check his or her own feet daily consider arranging for home aid or another family member to check the cr’s feet thoroughly two or three times a week when a cr has neuropathy and diabetes problems can become very serious very quickly #consult a doctor the minute an open sore develops or when you see a rash infection or change in color or shape of the foot

Materials: diabetic socks shoes and slippers hand mirror strong flashlight or natural light lamp

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Touch, Good Touch, So-So Touch

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #keep an eye on how often the cr usually drinks in a 24-hour period if it’s helpful take notes or ask the cr to make a note each time fluid is taken describing what and how much was drunk #review what kind of liquids the cr is usually drinking does the cr drink water alcohol caffeinated drinks juice how well do these choices interact with the cr’s health and nutritional needs #keep in mind that alcohol and caffeine don’t keep people hydrated they tend to cause people to urinate more frequently increase water intake if beer wine liquor caffeinated coffee tea or cola are taken #make healthier drink choices attractive to the cr by serving them before other drinks are brought out and by serving them in attractive cups or glasses jazz up iced water with a few slices of lemon or orange dropped in the glass or pitcher #offer fluids every couple of hours serve them just before or with meals and snacks #if the cr doesn’t want to give up rituals associated with drinking less healthy fluids create and add rituals tied to healthier choices for example set aside time to share an evening decaffeinated coffee or early morning glass of juice with the cr put everything else you’re doing aside even if only for ten minutes and focus on the cr sharing drinks that are attractively prepared and served in a distraction-free setting

Materials: Assortment of drinks short attractive brightly-colored tumblers straws if helpful small pitchers

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, 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: #until the cr is really comfortable with these foods think of them as additions to the regular diet and treat them as additives rather than replacements #if the cr is not willing to eating bran cereal for breakfast find ways to add one or two tablespoons of bran flakes to the breakfast cereal the cr will eat add two tablespoons of bran to granola or one tablespoon to instant hot oatmeal add a little extra water as the bran will make the cereal stiffer #add bran bulgar barley or brown rice to soups or casseroles #begin replacing some of the all-purpose white flour used for baking with whole wheat flour look for recipes that call for using both kinds of flour #add fresh fruits and vegetables as side dishes to meals #replace clear fruit juices with fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable drinks the more of the fruit and vegetable the drink contains the better if necessary buy orange juice with pulp in it #make a snack mix for the cr using nuts and raisins as well as a small amount of tasty incentive foods such as chocolate chips pretzel knots or small cereal squares # ask the cr’s doctor how many fiber grams the cr’s daily diet should include and begin reading food and drink labels for

Materials: Crude bran flakes sold in bulk food section whole wheat flour bulgar barley and buckwheat sold in bulk food section fresh fruit and vegetables nuts and dried fruits beans brown rice

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

Information: About fiber content the number of grams of fiber in a serving of food is usually listed on the nutrition label of canned boxed and bagged foods information

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #continue to serve balanced meals adding food the cr likes even if some of it isn’t optimal #if the cr most frequently chooses foods that are among the least healthiest for him or her look for more wholesome versions of those foods for example replace ice cream with no-sugar added ice cream fatty foods with leaner or fat-free alternatives and high-sodium foods with reduced sodium options try cooking without salt and use seasonings with lower-sodium salt or salt-free herbs and seasonings #make meals and snacks easier to handle chew and swallow according to the cr’s changing needs a meal of chicken and vegetables may look overwhelming on a plate for example but may be more attractive when the same ingredients are combined as smaller pieces in a soup fruits that a cr may not want to eat whole may be pureed and served as a drink or as topping on cake or sherbet a cr who no longer eats a whole slice of toast may eat find it less overwhelming to consider eating a piece of toast that has been sliced in half than one that is served whole #make an effort to keep food looking familiar even if the cr’s health requires that his or her diet be changed if it is no longer a good idea for the cr to drink alcoholic beverages buy alcohol-free beers or make alcohol-free drinks and serve them in the cr’s familiar glasses #serve food with an attractive napkin and keep the eating area clutter free and clean #some caregivers have found that serving the same amount of food on a larger plate may make it appear to the cr that he or she is eating less in some cases this trick may be helpful in allowing a cr to see the same amount of food as manageable

Materials: Dinner plates or any larger-sized plates attractive portions sizes

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, 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: #make sure the cr is in a stable and balanced position before beginning to assist the cr to dress or undress #while assisting the cr to dress the upper body guide the shirt or dress over the head fix the clothing around the injured or weakened arm first and then work the more mobile arm and the trunk into the clothing to remove clothes over the head first free the mobile arm from the garment afterwards hold the arm in place and ease the shirt or dress off around the limb #when helping the cr to put on pants begin with the injured or weakened leg then insert the stronger leg when taking pants off help the cr remove the pants from the uninjured or stronger leg first then carefully remove the pants away from the weaker leg

Materials: Nothing special needed

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

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #glue the top of the key to the flat side of a poker chip the poker chip will give the cr a bigger surface to hold #to build a wider surface for a cr with difficulty pinching thumb against fingers use two poker chips and glue one to each side of the top of the key #let one side dry before gluing the next side and let both sides dry completely before attempting to use the key

Materials: Poker chip super-strength glue for metal and plastic

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Touch, So-So Touch, Poor Touch

Information: This tip is designed to make a single small key accessible it may be best used for a key not normally kept on a ring and not in danger of being misplaced such as for a locking file or a desk however this may also work well for a cr who only uses one house key and doesn’t carry other keys

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #make sure the area around the bed is free of clutter keep a clear path from the bed to the door and make sure the path from the bed is wide enough to be walked easily #to rise from bed roll onto one side and swing legs over the side of the bed let gravity do most of the work the weight of the legs will help the body come to a sitting position #once seated upright make sure feet are flat on the floor and about as far apart as the shoulders sit for a moment in that position #rise to stand and stay standing still for a moment before beginning to walk standing still for a moment may allow time to gain balance or stability before beginning to walk

Materials: No special materials needed

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: n/a

Materials: #make sure the chair or couch is high enough and firm enough to provide a good surface for rising there may be some seating in the home that requires raising or firming for safer use #to prepare to stand safely the cr scoots forward so his or her buttocks are at the edge of the chair or sofa the cr may have to first lean back to push the buttocks forward make sure his or her feet are set at shoulder width or wider and his or her knees are bent so a straight line could be drawn from the feet to the buttocks make sure the cr uses the arms of the chair or the seat of the chair or couch to push upward as the cr rises he or she should lean forward from the hip so the nose is over the toes #upon rising the cr stands still for a moment this allows a few seconds for balance to be restored and for any dizziness to either pass or be addressed

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Mobility, Mobile, Independence, No Supervision

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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

Try: #attach a brightly-colored length of rope or tape securely between the two front legs of the walker when the cr has trouble starting or continuing to walk forward prompt him or her to walk toward the rope or tape the goal of simply moving toward something refocuses the cr’s attention away from the overwhelming process of thinking through all the steps necessary to walk and often makes forward movement possible again #make sure you have secure the rope or tape in such a way that the cr is unable to trip over it or step on it

Materials: One-and-a-half yards of brightly colored rope or tape walker

Categories: Medical Physical, Mobility, Mobile, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance, Independence, No Supervision, Some Supervision, Cognitive Awareness, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware, Long-Term Memory, Good L T Memory, So-So L T Memory, Poor L T Memory, Short-Term Memory, Good S T Memory, So-So S T Memory, Poor S T Memory

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: n/a

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