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A few general helpful tips to make care giving easier:
- For an older person who cannot get in and out of the tub, install grab bars next to toilets, bathtubs, and showers for fall prevention.
- Get a stool for the tub or shower on a non-slip rubber mat. Help the person to step carefully into the tub, to sit on the chair, to shower, then to stand up and step out. A hand-held shower attachment is also very helpful.
- Use a draw sheet to help move the person in bed.
- Replace buttons, zippers, and snaps with Velcro®. All types of clothing, including shoes, are now available with Velcro® fasteners.
- Use a hand towel (rather than a washcloth) for sponge-bathing a bedridden person.
- Add foam padding to increase the size of handles on tooth-brushes, razors, combs, and utensils. Foam curlers also work well.
- Obtain an identification bracelet for the older adult you care for, containing name, address, and telephone number. If the person wanders or gets lost, it will ensure that they can be identified.
- Make a list of contents of cupboards and drawers used by the care recipient. Use large print, and tape the lists to the drawers and cupboards.
- Use a Chinese soup spoon to avoid spilling food if the care recipient's hand shakes.
- Older people can learn new skills if they see the value of what they are expected to learn. Take time to explain how, what, and why.
Medication and health care tips
Talk to a pharmacist about the best way to organize medications, and be sure that you purchase something specifically for the purpose of managing medications.
- Find ways to make your care recipient laugh. Laughter helps to relax muscles and relieve pain, and boosts the immune system.
- Nonfat dry milk is a good protein supplement in soups, milk shakes, and casserole dishes, or mixed with water for reconstituted milk.
- Make sure your care recipient wears sunscreen as well as a hat and protective clothing when going out, whether the sun is shining or not.
- Ask your care recipient's physician or physical therapist to recommend a stretching routine. Stretching promotes flexibility in joints and muscles, which helps preserve range of motion.
- If reasonable, suggest a swimming class for your care recipient. Exercising in water effectively works the joints with minimal impact.
Caregiver Support Groups
A support group is one way to share your troubles. In most support groups, you'll talk about your problems and listen to others talk; you'll not only get help, but you'll be able to help others, too. Most important, you'll find out that you're not alone.
To find a community support group, check the yellow pages, or call a local organization that deals with the kind of problem you would like to address in a support group. (Examples are Alzheimer's, bereavement, stroke, disability, hearing or vision loss, or aging in general.) If it's a medical problem, ask your doctor or hospital.
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