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    Caregiving Tips for Everyone
    Caregiving Tips for Everyone
    Caregiving Tips for Everyone
    Ebook134 pages1 hour

    Caregiving Tips for Everyone

    By M. G. Walker

    ()

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    About this ebook

    The task of caring for an adult afflicted by age, illness, or both is not easy. Many caregivers find themselves intensely overwhelmed on occasion and must learn how to navigate this new role without losing touch with caring for themselves. In this new, comprehensive how-to manual, author M. G. Walker shares her wisdom on a wide range of important caregiving topics, ranging from physical care to emotional care of those in need.

    Even so, caring for the individual is often not all there is to worry about. This guide also includes information on other important aspects of caregiving, including managing finances, caring for yourself, handling stress, knowing when to let go when you cant do it all yourself, and dealing with loss after your charge has passed on.

    There are so many challenges affecting todays caregivers, and we often feel were on an island with no place to go for supportive advice. Let this be your guide as you find your way through this difficult task.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherInspiring Voices
    Release dateOct 1, 2012
    ISBN9781462403424
    Caregiving Tips for Everyone
    Author

    M. G. Walker

    M.G. Walker, GCM has several years of experience working in the caregiving field. Her education on the topic of caregiving has been both formal and through on-the-job observation. Observing the struggles caregivers experience prompted her to write this how-to book. She currently lives in Washington State.

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      Book preview

      Caregiving Tips for Everyone - M. G. Walker

      Copyright © 2012 M. G. Walker

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

      Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

      Inspiring Voices

      1663 Liberty Drive

      Bloomington, IN 47403

      www.inspiringvoices.com

      1-(866) 697-5313

      Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

      Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

      Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

      ISBN: 978-1-4624-0343-1 (sc)

      ISBN: 978-1-4624-0342-4 (e)

      Library of Congress Control Number: 2012917504

      Copyright © 1983 Barry Reisberg, M.D. Reproduced with permission.

      Inspiring Voices rev. date: 9/26/2012

      Contents

      Acknowledgements

      Preface

      What Is a Caregiver?

      Every Day Is a New Adventure

      Unraveling the Puzzle

      Caregiving—Not Controlling

      Simplify

      Take Time to Breathe

      Activities of Daily Living

      Eating

      Bathing

      Toileting

      Dressing

      Sleeping

      Surviving the Seasons

      Winter

      Spring

      Summer

      Fall

      Tagalongs

      What Shapes Us

      Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

      Emotional Loss

      Communication

      Physical Touch

      Pain

      Exercise

      A Sense of Self-Worth

      How to Encourage Our Friend to Take Pills When Necessary

      Medical Needs

      Global Deterioration Scale

      Smooth and Seamless Medical Appointments

      Sundowning

      Legal

      Living Where—Our Choices

      Structured Living

      Adult Family Homes

      Skilled Nursing Facilities

      Finances

      Financial Information

      Other Important Issues

      Driving

      Caregiver Stress

      Pets: Where Do They Fall In All This

      Activities

      Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

      Holiday Celebrations

      First Aid for Caregivers

      Extreme Weather, Extreme Stress

      End-of-Life Thoughts

      Quality versus Quantity

      Acknowledgements

      I would like to thank Jeannie and Tom for their continued support and encouragement during the process of writing this book. My daughter Holly who put up with all the time I spent writing while she helped with the reworking. For Michael who encouraged me to write this book for him and the Doctors, Nurses and Aids both at the Oncology Ward and Clinic, for teaching us so much. And of course to my constant companion Sasha, remaining at the side of those in need until time of us to go.

      Preface

      This book is set up to help you answer your questions as quickly as possible while you still provide care and take care of yourself during this most important time of your life. The reason for beginning with dementia is that so many illnesses and conditions that affect the elderly or become part of an adult condition have dementia as a component. Dementia can be a very small issue for us on a daily basis; however, when it does rise to the surface, there are ways to accomplish the kind of care that will allow us to get through it easier.

      Dementia can be an illness unto itself or it can be a symptom of a condition that has become a predominant part of our lives. Some dementia is easily handled, such as dementia that accompanies dehydration or a medication interaction. These can be taken care of easily and usually very quickly, such as increasing the amount of water a person is drinking. A medication adjustment will require physician involvement, but it will correct itself rather quickly following that adjustment.

      Dementia as an illness is an entirely different story and can become overwhelming to deal with. This dementia is with us 24/7 and will impact every aspect of our lives. Most dementias are progressive and will refine your skill in adapting quickly and not missing a beat. This kind of dementia is born from many different illnesses, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, mini-strokes, and Huntington’s.

      Whatever the cause, this book will provide answers to many of your questions and will help you through your day. If you are caregiving to an amputee and cannot imagine how this will help you, check out the chapters on bathing and dressing, loss, or hydration. All of these contain techniques that will help you in your daily routine.

      The last dementia is one that arrives and retains the same degree of significance throughout the friend’s life. The primary cause of this dementia is brain injury—whether from accident or illness—that injures the brain but leaves no other lasting effects.

      This one word can strike fear in the lives of most modern families, but you can meet dementia on its own ground and survive. There are many ways to cope, work, or survive a loved one’s diagnosis. Many Americans struggle to cope with caregiving after this diagnosis. Building a new set of coping skills for this intrusion in their lives appears insurmountable. A few short years ago, the answer was professional help in the form of skilled nursing facilities or live-in help. Today’s economic setting makes this an issue that needs to be tackled within the family setting.

      The solution is here and can be obtained very quickly with little to no financial burden. You can learn how to cope and live far less stressfully after hearing this diagnosis for a family member. The truth about dementia is in the diagnosis, which can cause dementia. That’s right—dementia is stressful for patients and caregivers; as such, it is one of the causations of dementia.

      Stress is a cause of dementia. It can be overwhelming. Dementia can be daunting and destructive. Medication, if not managed correctly, can cause dementia. Hydration, if not properly achieved during extreme temperature changes, can cause dementia.

      I will show you how to begin your life living with a loved one having dementia. Your survival and possible growth for a stress-less, purposeful life will begin without any new economic expenditure.

      You do not need any special tools or degrees. You have all the tools and information you need to work with someone who has dementia. The first—and most important—thing to do is set up a one-hour break for yourself each day during the first month of caring for a person with dementia. This break is your time. Do not bring any thoughts of your life maintenance (paying bills, calling back business associates, calling family, cleaning, scheduling auto maintenance, and so forth) into your time. Use your time for you. Give yourself a break, go for a walk, take a forty-five-minute nap, have a cup tea, coffee, or other nonalcoholic beverage, spend time with a pet, garden, look at a sunset with a clear mind. There are so many more ways to spend your time—just sit back and have a focal point of a beautiful picture.

      Keep a journal of the highs and lows associated with your loved ones moods and achievements. Watch with interest how your person’s daily routine is set up—not by you but by the person you are caring for. When do they get up (on their own without intrusion)? When do they go to bed (again without intrusion)? How have they set up their personal hygiene rituals? What are their personal eating rituals? How do they spend their quality time? What other activities make up each day of their life?

      Caring for a person with dementia is very different from any other caregiving. Dementia does not have bandages, ointments, or (in many cases) visible wounds. The number one thing you must remember for having a successful role in this person’s life is you are there by their invitation—and they must always be treated this way. Every day is a new adventure in caregiving.

      This book is set up to give you an opportunity to read as much or as little you want to at any specific time. It is set up to give you the opportunity to gather your thoughts and help in a specific area of caregiving. If you are in a hurry or need a quick reference, it will be easily found.

      I hope you will get some help and know that the road you have chosen is forged ahead of you, and you will be able to shed light for those coming up behind you.

      Chapter 1:

      What Is a Caregiver?

      Y ou must know that you are the greatest resource your

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