Tag Archives: family

Personalized Care Plans For Home as well as Extended Care

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Quite often we learn of some exciting tools used at an extended care facility which could easily be used at home in caring for our family.

In years past, the thoughts of a person in a “nursing home” rendered pictures of an elderly person sitting alone in a darkened room waiting for someone to take them to supper. The hallways, cafeteria, and many of the rooms had little to offer to make one feel at home. Even the staff seemed, for the most part, to be too busy or preoccupied to tend to individual needs.

Thankfully, in most cases, this is not true today. Modern facilities are designed to meet the felt needs of each resident. One trend is to make caregiving more individual by personalized care planning.  Here are a few of the suggestions; consider which of these you could incorporate into at-home care.

  1. Learn her favorite colors. If she is happiest in her green blouse, find other items in that color she could wear. Or find a warm wrap in green.
  2. For a man, find out what aftershave he used to use. Perhaps he misses that familiar fragrance. How simple to use a little aftershave to give him a pleasant memory.
  3. Room temperature. Set the temperature in the patient’s room for them, not according to how you feel. Be sensitive to their need of a wrap or fan.
  4. If she says she doesn’t need help transferring, and the chart says differently, discuss the matter. Perhaps she decides she can transfer by herself, falls, and then forgets what caused the fall. You cannot totally rely on the patient’s response.
  5. Does the patient like pets? Many facilities now have resident cats or dogs. These animals provide warmth and a sense of home to the residents.
  6. What are their favorite foods? If you are serving cottage cheese, for instance, would it be enjoyed more with a little fruit? Would the bread be easier for them to handle if it were toasted?
  7. Learn their favorite television shows. Make note of the time it comes on and help them look forward to that time each

If you are called upon to find long-term care for a loved one, ask about the personal care they provide for their residents. Walk through the home; does it feel warm and pleasant? Do the residents seem content?

If you are caring for someone at home, I hope these few ideas will help you consider your own situation. Are there simple steps you can take today to make life more comfortable and rewarding for others?

Hugs,

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Three Keys to Getting Unexpected Help Around the Home

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He doesn’t like doing the dishes. He isn’t one of those got-it-together guys standing ready to fire up the grill for a family outing. Help around the house does not mean in the kitchen. That area is almost foreign to him—unless he hears his name called for mealtime.

Imagine my surprise today when my husband came into the kitchen unannounced and begin scraping leftovers from a large bowl into a small one. Then, after finding lids to fit each one, he put them into the refrigerator. I glanced at him and smiled, and turned quickly back to my dish washing lest I somehow stop this miracle in progress.

“I don’t know if I’m doing this right,” he said almost apologetically.

“I’m sure it’s perfect. Thanks.”

We finished our work and took a second cup of coffee to the deck to cool off and rest a bit.

“You will never know how very much it meant to me for you to make time to help me today. Just putting the food away was an encouragement. Besides that, I really enjoyed your company. Thanks again.”

It seems as the years pass, we have become more sensitive to each other’s needs and try to be helpful when possible. That’s a given for most families. Today he taught me by example a lesson I think we all could benefit from.

When offering your help, do not simply pick the things you enjoy and ignore the rest. For my husband, helping clean the kitchen ranks down at the bottom of his list—way down. Not only that, I know he had work of his own to complete in the other room; he wasn’t in the kitchen with me because he was bored.

Here is what I believe are three keys to (eventually) getting help around the home:

  1. When help is offered, take it as it comes. I will never tell my husband he covered my dish of scraps and refrigerated them! Neither will I spend time wishing he had done things a different way; my way is not always the right way. (Incidentally, that has been a really difficult lesson to learn for me. How about you?)
  2. Do not drag people kicking and screaming to help you. Ask politely for help when needed. If refused or ignored, make the best of it. Each year my husband seems to be more comfortable helping with the kitchen, laundry, or cleaning. I think asking him to do small things periodically for me in those areas has helped him feel more comfortable and equipped to help more. A man (or woman for that matter) does not feel secure trying to help in unfamiliar territory.
  3. Do not spend your time complaining about not having help. Be thankful for the abilities and resources God has provided for you and try to enjoy even the most menial daily tasks. Be thankful you have someone to share with and let them know they are more important that what they will or will not do.

A verse in the third chapter of Colossians comes to mind about now that seems to sum this all up:

“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord, and not unto men.”

May your lives be enriched by those in your home and those you care for as you continue to bless others along the way.

Hugs,

Have you checked out my new page, Articles for Caregivers? There are some meaningful articles there for everyone. And sign up for the newsletter (pretty purple box on right.)

Maintaining Strength and Energy as We Grow Older

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It is a longer walk to our bathroom than I recall, and I know someone shortened the ceiling fan cord. The floor is a longer stretch than it used to be; my back will not let me bend that far! I attempted to  pick up a paper but could not reach it.

Can you relate? Whether you are living by yourself, caring for family, or a full-time caregiver, you know the value of keeping your muscles strong so you can remain independent as much as possible.

As we grow older, it becomes more important to take care to maintain our muscle strength. My muscles can use a lot of help but the thought of an exercise regime is out of the question.

Truthfully, I do not have time to go to a gym or watch a video for thirty minutes of uninterrupted exercise.

Besides that, I am tired. I wake up in the morning and jump right into the day’s work schedule. By nightfall, I am ready to hit the bed; exercise is the farthest thing from my mind.

Here are five easy steps that have helped me improve mobility and gain muscle strength. Please don’t dismiss them as too easy to make a change in my life; I will tell you, “you will see a change and you will feel it.”

1. Be conscious of how you handle your body at all times.

Have you formed a habit of slumping when you sit? Do you waddle from side to side when you walk, again from habit? Are you continually stepping over items that need picked up because you can’t or won’t stoop over to get them?

Take time to stop and think about your daily habits.  Stand tall when you walk, you will actually feel more rested as your posture improves. Make it a habit to bend over as much as you can to pick up items. Sit straight in a chair and breathe deeply. Even if this lasts only a few minutes, you will begin to build strength.

2. Seek better parking spaces for health’s sake.

At the local store, I want the parking place that is as close to the door as you can get. Of course, I rationalize that I need to park close to save time.  Let’s be honest, how much time does it take to walk a few extra parking spaces, or even half the parking lot? When I began this way of thinking, I could not walk the entire lot, or even half of it. I knew I could walk one or two more spaces, and that is where I began. Now I can go farther than I ever dreamed; just by adding a few steps at a time.

The truth of the matter is: that the more time “saved” by denying a little extra walk, the more time needed to rest. Just park a few spaces away at first.

4. Choose movement while you are waiting.

When you are warming something in the microwave, for instance, are you leaning against the cabinet or slipping into a nearby chair? Consider using that time for a few stretches or arm lifts. Keep weights or a couple of cans of food handy so you can grab them and do a one or two minute workout. At the very least, do a few squats and bends.

I have personally been amazed at the flexibility I have gained without adding a long exercise routine to my day.

5. Consider the mobility consequences when making a change in equipment.

Are you considering a lift chair for the one you are caring for or for yourself? They are life-savers for many people who simply cannot get up without them. However, do you really need all that help or would a simple boost be all you need?

It was only after we had difficulty fitting Mother in a lift chair that we discovered the power seat option. Instead of relying on a chair to completely move her to a standing position, we used the power seat. This gave her the boost she needed to stand safely while she still needed her strength and mobility to hold on to her chair and finish standing up to her walker. It was safe and easy to adjust to her needs, and helped her maintain muscular strength in her legs.

What small changes can you make in your life today that will affect your future health and well-being? Of these three simple steps, I challenge you to choose one, just one, and focus on that for a week. As that change becomes routine, add another. Soon you’ll be moving mountains!

Hugs,

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