Slideshow: Everyday Tips for Caregivers

Ask Questions

To give your loved one the best care, you have to understand her needs. Set aside time to talk. Find out how she feels and what she wants you to do for her.

Don't argue or insist your own opinion is best. Offer ideas, but listen to what she has to say. Show that you've heard by repeating back key points, like, "I understand that you want to do more for yourself."

Create a Schedule

When you care for someone at home, days can feel long and unfocused. Give him structure by making a schedule. Set times for meals, personal care, household chores, exercise, activities, and relaxation. Also set sleep and wake times to make sure both of you get enough rest.

When you make the schedule, think about your loved one's needs. Consider how he organized his day before you got involved.

Get Organized

Paperwork can pile up. To keep things running smoothly, put prescriptions, insurance info, doctor contacts, and health history in one place, like a multi-pocket folder. Keep track of appointments in a paper, computer, or smartphone calendar.

Set an alarm to remind you twice: a day or two, and a few hours ahead of time. Add your own appointments to the calendar to avoid schedule conflicts, and plan for days when you won't be around to help.

Keep Track of Medicines

More than a third of older adults take five or more drugs to treat different conditions. All those meds can lead to mix-ups and mistakes. Go over the list with your loved one's doctor and pharmacist to make sure every medication and dose is correct.

Store all medicines in one place for easy access. Use a pillbox to keep organized by day and time. Do an inventory every few months, and throw out any expired pills.

Simplify Meals

It takes time to prepare three meals a day. Planning ahead can help. Do all the week's grocery shopping in one trip. Cook a big batch of meals and freeze them.

Ask friends and family members to chip in. Set up a rotating schedule where each person shops for groceries, or brings over a whole cooked meal. When you cook, adapt dishes to your loved one's taste as well as calorie and dietary needs, like low salt or extra B vitamins.

Make the Home Safe

Avoid falls and injuries with a few changes around the house. Install grab bars and handrails in the bathroom to help prevent shower and tub slips. Add lights along hallways and stairways to lighten nighttime bathroom trips. Secure rugs with tape and pick up clutter. Store often-used items within reach so your loved one doesn't have to stretch or climb. Buy a fall monitor to alert you, and call 911 if she does take a spill.

Ask for Advice

If you're a first-time caregiver, you probably have a lot to learn. Get help from an expert like a geriatric care doctor, nurse, or therapist. They can teach you how to:

• Take over personal care tasks like bathing and dressing
• Manage bladder and bowel problems
• Lift the person safely without hurting her, or your back
• Make healthy meals that are easy to eat
• Adapt the home for safety and easy access

 

Recruit a Team

If you can't handle all the care on your own, put together an on-call group of family members and friends who can step in and help. Give each person one or more tasks. They can help prepare meals or run errands.

You can also hire someone to cook, clean, or handle daily personal and medical tasks, like helping your loved one dress, bathe, and take medicine. Your local agency on aging can help you find the right helper for each type of task.

Encourage Self-Care

Help keep your loved one's age, illness, or disability from taking a toll on her self-esteem. You can restore her feeling of control by letting her take as active a part as possible in her own care.

Encourage her to make decisions and do tasks she can manage -- like dressing or using the toilet. Let her help choose and plan activities. It will give her a sense of purpose, and make your job easier.

Prepare for Emergencies

Plan for the unexpected. Ask the doctor what symptoms to watch out for, such as chest pain, trouble breathing, or dizziness, and what to do if they happen.

 

Next to each phone in the home, keep a list of emergency names and numbers, including:

• Medical, fire, or police numbers (911 or a local number)
• Primary care doctor
• Preferred hospital
• Poison control
• Family and friends