Tag Archives: needs

5 Simple Ways to Assess Caregiving Needs

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Do you have a family member or friend who may need help? Are you struggling with the decision to hire a caregiver or perhaps give of your time to help? Whether  caring for someone now or considering a hired caregiver, here are important questions to consider. Even if you are already the primary caregiver, it is very important for you to take time to assess needs; they change periodically.

Here are 5 areas to evaluate to determine current needs; especially to identify long-term caregiving issues you may face.

#1 Are there signs of dementia or Alzheimers? Can the person make or receive calls without aide? When left alone, will they make safe decisions if a stranger comes to the door? These issues will certainly help determine whether long-term or short-term care is needed.

#2 Will this person consistently take medicines at the proper time? If so, is someone available to fix them at the beginning of the week? You cannot simply depend upon what you are told, watch for daily behavioral changes, check their medicines when possible.

#3 What about the nutrition needs of the individual? Can they cook meals; will they eat at the appropriate times? Could Meals on Wheels be an alternative or is an in-home caregiver needed during the daytime? Does someone simply need to clean the refrigerator once a week and put in fresh foods?

#4 Are there signs of hygiene needs when you visit? Can the person take care of bathing and other personal needs or does someone need to assist? Has their mobility declined in such a way that falling may be an issue.

#5 Probably the most obvious and most often overlooked is the question of how much time is needed to meet the needs. Be sure to carefully consider this issue before hiring someone or before you commit to help. Even small tasks that require daily attention can be overwhelming after awhile. Do you have time? Do you have others to call upon for help?

I have found the simplest solutions can be overlooked in our busy-ness if we do not take time occasionally to re-evaluate our situation.

My book, MY MOTHER MY CHILD is filled with help and hope for those caring for others of all ages; autographed copies now available through this website.

Hugs,

A Reality Check When Facing Signs of Exhaustion

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I felt totally exhausted today. Plain ole exhausted!  Exhaustion is defined as being completely used up and that is how I felt. The routine of caring for family needs and home seemed overwhelming, and my ‘free time’  was never enough. Time, energy, and the will to push on were gone.

Are you there today? Ever been there? Wow, it’s hard to pull yourself out of that mode. I didn’t want to do anything, see anyone, talk on the phone, and eat — well, let’s re-think that last one!

Deciding I needed—deserved—a break, I poured myself a steaming cup of Hazelnut coffee, grabbed a chocolate protein bar, propped my feet up on a pillow and turned on the television hoping to find some music or lively show to motivate me.

Before I could switch the dial, I was mesmerized by the screen. A young man seemed to be on top of a desk as he spoke to an enormous crowd. His face literally lit up as he shared the joy in his heart from serving others. As he talked freely about how blessed he was and how much God had done for him, the camera scanned the audience.

As the cameraman turned his focus to the speaker, I realized he was literally speaking from the top of a desk. This was my first encounter with Nick Vujicic. Nick was born in Australia without arms or legs. His parents had worked hard to get him accepted in a public school where he accomplished with no limbs what seemed impossible from an early age. He learned to use his one “foot” to type on a computer and perform many other tasks.

Within a few minutes, my feet slid off the stool and onto the floor. I sat straight up in my chair staring in disbelief as he continued talking about how anything is possible if you want it badly enough. His early days, I am sure, were extremely difficult. I realized my present tiredness would not hold a candle to his true exhaustion as he worked hard to strengthen and train what muscles he had to achieve his goals.

I struggle with finding time to meet writing deadlines, to read more books, to become a more faithful witness and friend to others. It doesn’t seem to take much to pull me away from my goals and I wonder how committed I am to finding my purpose.

According to this young man, life without purpose is no life at all. Living without limbs, he is an author, musician, actor, and his hobbies include fishing, painting and swimming. Nick says, “If God can use a man without arms and legs to be His hands and feet, then He will certainly use any willing heart!”

Well, dear friends, that program sure did a lot for my exhaustion! I turned off the television, finished cleaning the room, washed and put away another load of laundry, and sorted the stack of papers lining the dining table. (My husband will be in shock!)

You know me well enough to know, I believe we need to rest when we are tired. I believe we need to care for ourselves as we care for others. I believe there is a time to work and a time to play.

However, there is also—at least in my life—a form of tiredness that comes from “stinkin’ thinkin’” and I am choosing to change that attitude every time it appears.

I pray for you to find rest and renewal in your life today.

Hugs,

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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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