Caregivers

15 Oct 2020
Building Your Team Building your team begins with a diagnosis. Anyone receiving a serious diagnosis needs some time to absorb the news. So do family members and whoever else you choose to tell.  First, take in the news and hear what the physician tells you. It is highly recommended to have a loved one go ...
Old, Alone, “Don’t Need Help” Old, Alone, “Don’t Need Help” is a common response a Home Care Social Worker hears. It is hard to be ill or incapacitated. Living alone makes it that much harder. In fact, age, illness, and living alone are “risk factors” to be considered when putting together or thinking of a ...

Caring for Someone Ill at Home

Caring for someone ill at home who has a contagious condition, involves keeping them, yourself and others in the house safe.  Assist them with their basic needs: food, liquids, medications, hygiene, safety and following the doctor’s orders. If they have a fever, help bring it down with prescribed or over the counter medication, serve lots of fluids so they don’t dehydrate and make sure they are eating. Sick senior manDrinking and rest can go a long way in feeling better. We recommend you have a thermometer to check for fever and if blood pressure is a concern, high or low, purchase a Blood Pressure gauge at your local pharmacy or online. This way you can monitor them more closely. Keep the doctor’s and other important information handy.

When the person is contagious, limit your contact with them as much as possible. Today with Covid-19, masks and gloves or other “PPE” is available for personal protection. Minimize any close contact with the person. Bring them what they need, leave items at bedside, take care of pets, bring in the mail and check on them from afar.  Keep in contact with the doctor or Nurse Practitioner. There are companies who make medical home visits or will use Tele-health to view and question the patient. Medicare and some insurances will cover a visiting nurse. 

Special Precautions for Covid-19

Because this virus is highly contagious, it is important to follow all the CDC guidelines to protect yourself from transmission. If you are in a high risk group; over age sixty or have your own health issues, you may not be the best person to care for them. Both of you should be wearing masks.

Tips to Protect Yourself and Your Loved One:

~Use masks, gloves, even a face shield.

~Use online delivery as much as possible for food, medication and most any item you need.

~Keep contact low, and at a distance (six feet) whenever possible.

~If, the person can self-isolate, do so. Sleep in a different room.

~Use a different bathroom when possible and the sick person should stay in their own room, not using the whole house or apt.

~No time for visitors unless they are necessary.

~As the caregiver, limit your going out. You may need to quarantine.

Household Tips:

~Try to have the best air flow possible, even open some windows.

~Good ventilation helps remove respiratory droplets from the air.

~Do not share items such as, cell phones,  utensils, linen, plates, glasses etc. and wash them using gloves and hot water.

~Throw away gloves after use. Wash your hands with soap and water after removing gloves. Line your trash bins so you can throw away the bag.

~Wash your hands with soap often! Avoid touching your face – eyes, nose and mouth.

~Clean and disinfect often – surfaces, kitchen bedroom and bathroom.

Whenever caring for someone who has a contagious illness, it is best to wear gloves when handling their laundry, bedding, kitchen utensils etc.

Caregiver – Caring for Yourself

Whether your loved one is contagious or not, a real risk for a care partner is burnout and self neglect. The stress of caring for another person is huge. Build your team. Monitor your own health, boost your immune system, keep you own medical appointments and accept help.  If you or your loved one’s condition worsens, get medical attention. If there is trouble breathing or higher fever,  call 911 as that is an important medical warning sign. If you aren’t a medical professional, learn the signs so that you can call for medical help when needed. Other symptoms to watch for are pain in chest or persistent pressure,  confusion or other cognitive changes and any loss of consciousness.

You can’t do it all for an extended period of time so make a care plan. Decide who is able and willing to help you. There are different ways that different friends and family members can help.  You may need to hire a health aide. A trained and experienced caregiver can be a tremendous asset to you. So, think about what your responsibilities are and build in supports so that you can be the most effective care partner.

 

Social Work Based Home Care Social Work based home care takes a macro view of a client’s needs, family relationships, home safety and an array of resources and benefits.  In-home care, Social Workers typically are with a Medicare Agency. They are one of the “Skills” which Medicare covers. Other skilled professionals are Registered Nurses, Physical, ...
Practicing Feeling Good Practicing feeling good is an active emotional exercise. Today “mindfulness” is getting its due and being mindful of feeling good leads to a greater sense of well-being. So we can increase positive feelings by being aware of what brings us joy. Reminiscing is a great way to recall a happy time. Our ...
05 Jun 2020
Home Care Mistakes Home Care Mistakes result in frustration and stress, or worse. They can occur during an already difficult medical/health situation. An unsatisfied experience is often preventable. People seek out help at home when they are either post-surgery, undergoing an illness, are a primary caregiver, or have a long term, degenerative disease ( i.e. ...
29 May 2020
Hurricane Covid -19 Hurricane Covid-19 season is upon us. We have had two named storms already in May. Forecasts for an above average season have us all on edge. Because the Corona virus is changing our lives, plans, movements and so on, we must begin preparing and making plans now. Licensed Home Care companies must ...
15 May 2020
Senior Loneliness Senior loneliness is in the spotlight due to quarantine and self- isolation by seniors. The Covid-19 pandemic is causing people to remain home. Usual activities like Senior Centers and other programs are on hiatus. Not being able to go to your favorite restaurant, poolside, or even to your card game is causing older ...
Unplanned Hospitalization An unplanned hospitalization occurs unless it’s an elective, planned procedure or surgery. Because to the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of people are going to the hospital unexpectedly. You are too old to be a Boy Scout or Girl Scout, but you are never too old to be prepared. Many Floridians have “Emergency Kits” for ...
Home Care and Covid-19 Home care and Covid-19 during this exceptional time,  means fewer people want a new person in their home. However, illness, Alzheimers – dementia, hospitalizations continue as does spousal caregiving burnout. So much aloneness can exacerbate depression. We all must consider and manage risk.  When you or a loved cannot safely manage ...
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