Try: Apply either heat or cold or both sequentially the cr can determine if either heat or cold or both helps with the pain and or stiffness apply either heat or cold for only 15 minutes at a time heat can be applied with a warm pack a warm bath jacuzzi or whirlpool electric heating pad or blanket warm lamp or hydro collator pack all of which help relax the muscles other ways of making things warm and soothing are using flannel sheets heating up clothes in the dryer for a minute or two before putting them on or using hot water bottles on the sore areas if cr has morning stiffness try using a heating pad before he or she gets up otherwise the cr can try taking a warm shower when he or she first gets out of bed if cr has painful swollen joints try applying coldness to the area s coldness helps numb the painful area and can be applied with an ice pack it can be very helpful for joints that are especially painful and swollen

Materials: Heating pad cold pack hot water bottle

Categories: Medical Physical, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from www care com caring for seniors with arthritis by staff writer no date

Keywords: Joints pain in joints swollen joints stiffness stiff back stiff neck gross motor coordination fine motor coordination

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

Try: Gather

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Social

Information: About the cr’s alcohol and or drug use select your intervention team members complete the planning and training for the intervention set a date and time for the intervention determine financial resources for alcohol and drug treatment evaluate treatment centers choose a treatment program that best suits the cr’s needs prepare for the possibility that the cr may refuse treatment information

References: Www agingandaddiction net

Keywords: Intervention addiction substance abuse

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

Try: Drink more now than in the past drink less but still has problems with alcohol hide bottles of alcohol pills or controlled substances undergo a personality change when using alcohol or other drugs lie to relatives or friends about alcohol use drink in the morning or early in the day drink alone fail to remember what occurred during a period of alcohol and or drug use have a family history of alcoholism get angry if someone suggestions there’s a drinking problem shake in the morning or when abstaining from drugs or alcohol

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Lovefirst net

Keywords: Substance abuse addiction

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

Try: Place the dry erase board somewhere in the cr cr’s room near the door where it will be visible tape the different food groups to the dry erase board make a weekly chart using the dry erase markers the chart should have the days of the week the date and ample space to write menu selections for breakfast lunch and dinner go through the weekly menu from the community dining room with the cr write down the choices for the upcoming week week’s meals on the dry erase board chart insure that something from each major food group is selected for each meal also make it a priority to select menu items that are lower in fat and calories the cr should now be able to make healthy choices from the menu in the community dining room since the decisions already been made ahead of time if using a dry erase board is too cumbersome consider using a clip board pen and paper to accomplish the same objectives

Materials: Dry erase board dry erase markers cut out clip art of various food groups

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Some Supervision, Maximum Supervision, Fully Aware, Somewhat Aware

Information: n/a

References: n/a

Keywords: Diet nutrition healthy meals healthy life style

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

Try: Bring together three to eight people who are important to the cr and are willing to learn how to help set up a planning meeting to discuss the intervention choose a detail person choose a team chairperson do not alert the cr to the intervention plans list ways you’ve tried to help that may have enabled the addiction put in writing all the negative consequences caused by the addiction read your letters aloud editing out anger blame and judgment determine bottom lines and write them down on a separate page test each other’s willingness to follow through with the bottom lines identify financial resources for covering treatment costs evaluate treatment centers using the evaluation questions set a date time and place for the rehearsal and the intervention choose a treatment center answer its pre-intake questions and make an appointment for admission create a plan to bring the cr to the intervention identify objections the cr may use to avoid or postpone treatment then formulate your answers pack a suitcase using the guidelines provided by the treatment staff determine who should drive the cr to treatment compile a list of all medications the alcoholic is presently using rehearse the intervention decide where each person will sit including the cr discuss the order in which you’ll read your letters script the chairman’s introduction and closing statement review objections and answers plan to arrive at the intervention location 30 minutes before the cr is expected to be there if the intervention is taking place at the cr’s home arrive as a group after the intervention call the admissions staff and let them know whether or not the cr has agreed to treatment collect all letters and send them to the cr’s counselor

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, Personal, Social

Information: n/a

References: Www agingandaddiction net

Keywords: Intervention addiction substance abuse

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

Try: Suggest that the cr bathe with cool water add baking soda to bath water apply a cool moist wash cloth to itchy areas wash sheets and towels in a mild laundry soap and change daily avoid using harsh laundry detergents

Materials: Baking soda wash cloth mild laundry soap

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from www netofcare org symptom management at home by staff writer no date

Keywords: Rash rashes skin problem

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

Try: Add mineral or baby oil to a warm bath apply a skin moisturizer to the cr suggest that the cr drink plenty of water at least 8-10 glasses per day suggest that the cr avoid scrubbing skin while bathing and that he or she just gently pat skin dry

Materials: Mineral or baby oil skin moisturizer

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from www netofcare org symptom management at home by staff writer no date

Keywords: Itchy skin dry skin

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

Try: Try serving the cr foods high in fiber such as whole grain cereal and bread dried fruit nuts beans and raw fruits and vegetables make sure the cr is drinking enough liquids up to 6-8 glasses per day try offering the cr drinks that may stimulate the bowels such as prune juice hot lemon water tea or coffee encourage the cr to get daily exercise such as walking

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from www netofcare org symptom management at home by staff writer no date

Keywords: Constipation stomach gastrointestinal fecal

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

Try: Keep a daily journal of fatigue this can provide invaluable

Materials: Pen notebook or blank journal playing cards

Categories: Medical Physical

Information: For you and cr for example patterns of fatigue energy levels and activities that increase or decrease fatigue are all important and should be documented help the cr identify high-energy activities and tasks such at bathing and dressing which contribute to his or her fatigue try to find ways to help the cr make activities simpler and less tiring encourage the cr to plan and pace activities around times when he or she has more energy encourage the cr to avoid staying in bed and resting for long periods of time excessive bed rest can cause weakness or decreased energy levels and eventually increase fatigue try to get cr to do some exercising mild to moderate exercise such as walking and stretching can relieve fatigue symptoms increase functioning and gently energize the cr try to tailor exercises to cr’s age physical and medical condition suggest that cr begin exercising gradually several days a week and make sure cr doesn’t get exhausted encourage the cr to remain active to maintain his or her energy levels so that doing necessary tasks is easier try using distraction strategies such as suggesting that the cr listen to music watch tv or play cards to help get rid of mental fatigue and restore mental functioning encourage cr to eat a balanced and healthy diet to maintain and increase his or her energy level the diet should include adequate calories and all of the major food groups such as grains green vegetables legumes and proteins encourage cr to maintain an adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration and hypertension which can make fatigue worse

References: Adapted from www netofcare org symptom management at home by staff writer no date

Keywords: Fatigue tired low energy irritable cranky

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

Try: Encourage the cr to try doing some light exercises on a regular basis encourage the cr to move in ways that reduce the stress on joints encourage the cr to avoid staying in one position that puts weight on the joints if the cr gets too tired when exercising suggest that he or she stop suggest that the cr learn when to stop and rest by paying attention to his or her body encourage the cr to learn how to move while also saving energy

Materials: n/a

Categories: Medical Physical, Needs Some Assistance, Needs Much Assistance

Information: n/a

References: Adapted from www care com caring for seniors with arthritis by staff writer no date

Keywords: Joints exercise stiffness gross motor coordination fine motor coordination

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