Tips
Class
Many cancer patients find that keeping their feet warm helps prevent the painful leg cramps that are a side effect of some chemotherapy drugs. (Heat improves circulation and thus reduces cramping.) If your parent is suffering from leg cramps, have her try sleeping in warm socks. Choose soft, loose s...
Class
Severe leg cramps can accompany some chemotherapy regimens, keeping patients up at night or interrupting sleep. If leg cramps are bothering your parent, try covering his legs with a heating pad, which can help calm the cramp and relieve discomfort. Use a low to medium heat setting to avoid burning t...
Class
If you're struggling with what gift to get your parent for his next birthday or an upcoming holiday, consider an unconventional present that could buy both of you peace of mind: a long-term care insurance policy (for which you'll pay an annual premium). A year in a nursing home can run upwards of $5...
Class
If your parent is in the hospital or a skilled nursing facility, try to time your visits -- and those of other friends and family members -- to coincide with meal times. Staff members often just drop off meal trays and zip out, while ill or infirm seniors -- or those whose vision is impaired -- may ...
Class
Worried about who will tend to the person in your care when you go out of town for business or vacation? According to Ann Cason, author of Circles of Care: How to Set Up Quality Home Care for Our Elders, increasing numbers of assisted living communities offer short-term on-site care for just this si...
Class
Aphasia can be one of the more maddening complications of stroke. If a stroke survivor in your care is struggling to communicate, having him point at pictures or photos can save you both a lot of frustration. Help him create a book featuring pictures and photos of loved ones, caregivers, and often-u...
Class
If someone in your care has heart failure, just walking across a parking lot may exhaust him. Yes, he does need to stay as active as possible, but he also needs to get enough rest. When resting, he should sit or lie down with his feet elevated. Encourage him to schedule a daily rest period that coin...
Class
If someone in your care uses a walker, he may have trouble maneuvering it on hardwood floors or linoleum. But here's an easy, inexpensive fix: Cut slits in two tennis balls and place them over the rubber stoppers on the front legs of the walker. The tennis balls slide more easily along smooth floori...
Class
If your parent needs help making her way around because of her low vision, let her take your arm rather than taking hers. Also walk about a half step ahead of her. This way she can feel and follow your motion and react to your movements. And you'll be the first one to come across any obstacles.
Class
If your parent has trouble putting in his eyedrops because his hands shake a bit, have him place a one-pound wrist weight on his wrist. The extra weight can help cut down on the shaking. If you think he's not strong enough to safely handle the weight, another option is for him to approach his eye fr...
Class
If the person you're caring for is eligible for Medicaid -- the state and federal healthcare program for low-income seniors and people with disabilities -- he may be able to use family or friends as paid in-home caregivers.
Class
When you hire an in-home caregiver -- whether a certified nursing assistant, a personal care attendant, or a home health aide -- writing down job responsibilities at the start helps prevent misunderstandings down the line. Make the list as detailed as possible: for example, spelling out what housecl...
Class
If your family is spread out around the country, a free conference call is a great way to get everyone together -- whether you need to resolve a difficult family problem or just want to catch up. You may not have considered this option because you assumed it would be complicated or expensive, but ma...
Class
After caring for two elderly parents for several years( one with Dementia)..I found that a common baby monitor helped a lot when I was at the house with them. My mother and I could leave the room, even go outside for air, and have a little more freedom knowing where my father was easily. I also put...
Class
Don't try and do it all in one day or even one weekend. Have a plan! Start with areas of your home that you don't use that much, such as the attic, the basement, the laundry room or spare bedroom. Items that you designate for donating or giving to family and friends in a room or area of the house...
