Tips for Caregivers

When you are providing care to an elderly member of your family, follow these tips to also take care of yourself

Choose to take charge of your life and don't let your loved one's illness or disability take center stage.
Remember to be good to yourself. Love, honor, and value yourself. You're doing a very hard job and you deserve some quality time, just for you.
Watch out for signs of depression and don't delay in getting professional help when you need it.
When people offer to help, accept the offer and suggest specific things they can do.
Educate yourself about your loved one's condition. Information is empowering.
There's a difference between caring and doing. Be open to technologies and ideas that promote your loved one's independence.
Trust your instincts. Most of the time they will lead you in the right direction.
Grieve for your losses, and then allow yourself to dream new dreams.
Stand up for your rights as a caregiver and a citizen.
Seek support from other caregivers. There's a great strength in knowing you are not alone.

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When someone you know is not eating well and is losing weight

Consult the doctor first to see if there is a medical condition causing the problem
Use powdered milk to increase nutrients. Try Carnation Instant Breakfast as a beverage and add additional 2 heaping tablespoons of powdered milk to the whole milk. Also try eggnog, hot cocoa or milkshakes, adding additional powdered milk.
Add powdered milk to soups, cereals, raw ground beef before making hamburger patties, casserole, macaroni and cheese, tuna or egg salad, scrambled eggs, mashed potatoes, and pudding. This will increase the nutrients without forcing the elder to eat more.
Add cheese to scrambled eggs, sandwiches, meatloaf, mashed potatoes, salads, and soups. Make melted cheese toast instead of plain buttered toast. Put a piece of cheese inside of hot biscuits, rolls, and cornbread.
Use peanut butter. Spread it thick on sandwiches or crackers. Put peanut butter on pancakes before adding syrup. Spread peanut butter on hot toast, biscuits, vanilla wafers, graham crackers, apples, bananas, and pears. Blend peanut butter into milkshakes.

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When someone you know needs to exercise but has difficulty walking, try these exercises from a sitting position

March in place from your chair, lifting knees-20 times each.
Lift knees alternately to chest - 6 times each
Hold seat of chair and lift hips upward 5 times
Alternate arm pull as in crawl swimming - 5 times each
Circle extended hand clockwise and counter-clockwise 6 times each
Sit and reach for right toe, between legs, and then left toe - 3 to 5 times each

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When someone you know has impaired vision, try these tips to make the environment safer

Printed material should be on buff colored, nonglossy paper with at least 14-point type
Two light sources should be used where the elder is performing a task
Glare should be reduced-no high polished floors, no bare lightbulbs, and no windows without curtains.
Color (red, orange, and yellow) should be used to identify critical items in the environment ("off" button on the stove or burner, yellow or red ashtrays, red edging on steps, cutting board, handles on knives, edging on plates and cups etc.)
Contrast should be used on door trim, window trim, and wall trim so the elder can see where the floor ends and the wall begins and the location of windows and doors.
Furniture that contrasts in color to the floor color will help prevent falls. Be sure the bedspread is a contrasting color to the floor.
Night-lights at night will help with difficulty adjusting from dark to light.
Whenever possible, choose bright clothes with contrasting buttons and fasteners.

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When someone you know becomes dizzy when they stand up

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of fluid every day.
Avoid large meals. Avoid trying to perform any major tasks for at least 30 minutes after each meal.
Before arising from your bed do the following'
-exercise the calf muscles in your legs to get blood flowing back to the heart
-sit at the edge of the bed for a period of time before standing (count to 30)
-after standing, walk in place for a few minutes before walking away from the bed
Avoid showering, bathing, shaving, or any major task until you have been out of bed
for at least 30 minutes.
Consider wearing knee-length elastic stocking
Avoid bending over at the waist to pick up items. If possible, squat to pick up things so that the head is kept above the level of the heart.
Be especially careful when getting up to the bathroom at night. If you have a urinary
problem that causes you to hurry to the bathroom, consider a bedside commode at night. (Be sure to tell your doctor about the urinary problem).

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When someone you know has problems with incontinence

Check with the doctor to determine if there is a correctable cause.
Encourage the person to continue with their usual activities. There are many protective products that protect against moisture and odor.
Encourage the person to drink plenty of water to prevent the urine from becoming concentrated. Ironically, limiting fluids will only make the incontinence worse.
Water is the best beverage, but apple, grape, pear and other non-citric juices may be helpful. The person should avoid caffeine (coffee, tea, soda), alcoholic beverages, and citrus fruit juices.

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When someone you know has difficulty hearing

Have an evaluation by an audiologist
Be aware that people who have difficulty hearing may appear depressed and my back away from social situations.
Always be sure the person can see your face when you speak
Turn off the TV or radio.
Do not shout. Keep your voice relaxed, lower the pitch of your voice, and speak just a little louder.
Do not be condescending. The person's intelligence in not impaired.

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When someone you know has problems with constipation, try these recipes

Prune Bread-Better than Medicine

6 eggs, beaten
2 c. brown sugar, packed
2 c. prune juice
2 c. prunes, pits removed
2 tsp. Baking soda
3 c. Applesauce
4 C. flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix ingredients in the order given until a rough batter is formed. Pour batter into two or three greased pans, and bake for approximately one hour. Slice and store in packages of 2 slices in the freezer. Eat 2 slices per day.

Natural Laxative

Mix equal parts of
1. prune juice
2. applesauce
3. bran (can use Bran Buds)

Store in refrigerator

Take 30 cc (approximately 2 Tablespoons) each morning and each night

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