It's natural to want the best possible care for your loved one. But whether you're the chief caregiver or you supervise someone else, it's sometimes hard to judge if the job is getting too tough to handle alone.
Take this short test to measure the physical challenges of caring for your loved one and find out if you need to get some extra help.
Check numbers 1, 2, or 3 for each category on this list. Then get your score by adding up the numbers you selected.
The results will give you the big picture of your caregiving situation. A high score means you've got things under control. A lower number means you might want to get more help.
Questions About the Person Who's Getting the Care
Ability to Get Around: Your loved one is usually:
_____ (1) Confined to the bed
_____ (2) Homebound, but not bed bound
_____ (3) Able to get about on his own
Eating: Your loved one is:
_____ (1) Not able to feed himself
_____ (2) Able to feed himself but needs supervision, coaching, and company
_____ (3) Able to come to the table for meals
Bathing and Dressing: Your loved one is:
_____ (1) Not able to bathe himself or do other routine tasks like shaving or dressing
_____ (2) Able to take a tub bath or a shower but needs help and support
_____ (3) Able to bathe, groom, and dress on his own
Going to the Bathroom: Your loved one is:
_____ (1) Not able to control his bowels or bladder
_____ (2) Able to control bowels and bladder but needs help to use a bedpan or get to the bathroom
_____ (3) Can get to the bathroom on his own
Time Needed for Care: Your loved one:
_____ (1) Needs 20 hours of personal care a week
_____ (2) Needs between 10 and 20 hours of personal care a week
_____ (3) Needs less than 10 hours of personal care a week
Thinking Skills: Your loved one is:
_____ (1) Usually mentally confused
_____ (2) Sometimes mentally confused
_____ (3) Able to think clearly and make competent decisions
Continued
Questions About the Caregiver
Health: The caregiver:
_____ (1) Is in frail or poor health
_____ (2) Has some limits on activities
_____ (3) Is in good health and is physically active
Other Job Responsibilities: The caregiver is:
_____ (1) Employed full-time outside the home
_____ (2) Employed part-time outside the home or has a flexible and supportive work setting
_____ (3) Not employed outside the home
Other Care Responsibilities: The caregiver is:
_____ (1) Responsible for children or other family members
_____ (2) Responsible for no one other than the person receiving care
_____ (3) Able to hire full-time assistance
Caregiving Skills: The caregiver:
_____ (1) Lacks skills or confidence in providing care
_____ (2) Has adequate skills and confidence to meet home care needs
_____ (3) Can hire any needed assistance
Relaxation Time: The caregiver:
_____ (1) Has less than four hours "off duty" time each week
_____ (2) Has at least one day "off duty" each week
_____ (3) Can pursue personal interests and activities
Sleeping Habits: The caregiver:
_____ (1) Loses sleep regularly in order to complete all of the daily care needs
_____ (2) Occasionally loses sleep in order to complete all the daily care tasks
_____ (3) Is able to get regular sleep
Get Your Score
Add up the numbers you selected. A lower score means you're in a "less manageable" situation. You need to think about getting more support beyond what your or the primary caregiver can provide.
Higher scores mean you're in a "more manageable" caregiving situation.
The lowest possible score on this test is12. It indicates you need significant caregiver support.
The highest possible score for this test is 36.
Your total rating score for this test: ______