June 21st of every year marks the beginning of summer, and we still have more than a month till the first day of fall on September 22nd. Although those who live on the West Coast may feel the heat long before. For elderly patients and their caregivers, staying indoors all summer because of excessive heat can get really tiring. (more…)
Many people, particularly senior citizens, rely on home healthcare workers or private nursing services to assist with both their medical and personal needs. These caregivers are often hired by family members or friends that live too far away to care for the patient themselves.
According to a study done by the AARP Knowledge Management Study, 29% of caregivers fortunately live in the same household, 38% of live within 20 minutes nearby, 18% live farther away, 5% live more than an hour away, and 9% live more than two hours away. Since most caregivers live far away from their patients, an efficient and effective way to monitor a patient’s health is lacking when they aren’t in the patient’s home. According to the same study only 45% of caregivers can provide one to eight hours a week. (more…)
I have always struggled with the concept of sleep. I guess I figure that, soon enough, I’ll get plenty of it up in heaven! As a young girl, I often visited my grandparents and, while I enjoyed their company immensely, I dreaded bedtime.
You see, my grandfather’s snoring made more noise than thunder. Listening to him roar, I could swear that a locomotive was racing right towards my bedroom door. “Grandma, make him stop”, I cried, but instead of nudging him to roll over, I guess she felt her efforts would be far better served if she fixed what was ailing me.
My grandmother believed in the power of herbs. She had an herbal tea for this and an herbal tea for that. Her most infamous recipe was that of an herbal remedy made especially for me and my sleep problems. She served it to me, mixed with a lullaby, and in moments, off I went to float in the clouds with the rest of her angels. Perhaps it was the placebo effect, or perhaps I felt great comfort with her by my side - I’m not really sure. I do know, that to this day, if I have trouble sleeping, I drink a cup of grandma’s secret recipe and in the blink of an eye, I drift off to slumber. (more…)
I’ve practiced many types of nursing in my career, including home health. One day, I arrived at a patients’ home who had COPD and was oxygen dependent. I sat down to ask my usual questions and right before my very eyes, she had the audacity to take out a pack of Lucky Strikes and light one up.
Now, I don’t particularly enjoy being around cigarettes due to the risks associated with secondhand smoke, but my concerns grow exponentially when a patient lights up in front of me while she is using oxygen!
My first instinct — exit stage left, before the entire house with me in it starts to blow! I asked her rather nicely to put out her cigarette and she replied “why should I, it’s my house, isn’t it?” How right she was, but I told her, if she did NOT put out her cigarette immediately, I was going to leave and not continue the visit. She finally complied and the rest is history, as she never lit up in front of me again. But, how do you cope as a caregiver, when your patient smokes and you are faced with a similar situation?
Before accepting a job as a caregiver, whether hired by a home health agency or privately, ask if the patient smokes. You may want to reconsider the job, particularly if you have allergies, asthma, or other respiratory conditions which may be exacerbated by secondhand smoke. If your patient does smoke, make a contract with him or her in advance so they do not smoke in the house, car, or anywhere near you.
Do not allow your patient to smoke in the presence of oxygen. Oxygen is highly flammable and serious consequence could arise if they do so. If your patient ignores your plea, contact a family member to see if they can speak to the patient on your behalf. If that doesn’t work, you may want to think about getting another job.
Suggest that your patient only smoke outdoors. Stand as far away as possible while he finishes his cigarette. Present your patient with educational materials regarding the dangers of tobacco and secondhand smoke. The American Lung Association provides this information for free to individuals who are in need.
Never allow children to be exposed to secondhand smoke. If there are children in the home, be sure to remove them from the area when your patient is smoking. Secondhand smoke causes many health problems, including placing you at risk for COPD, heart disease and lung cancer.
Encouraging your patient to either quit smoking or to adopt a smoke-free home policy will help you and family members with whom your patient lives to limit exposure. If you still need help encouraging them to quit smoking read BestSitePicks Stop Smoking page for more.
Respite is defined as a temporary delay or an interval of rest or relief by the Merriam Webster Dictionary. Respite care gives caregivers a temporary break from the arduous task of taking care of someone. Respite care is so significant, that it has been built in to the Medicare Hospice Benefit and many other senior programs within certain communities. If you need a well-deserved break, here are 4 types of respite care services that you may want to consider:
1. Adult Day Care
Well-suited for those individuals who are mobile and continue to enjoy social interaction, adult day care services provide caregivers an opportunity to get relief during the day either while they are at work, out running errands, attending doctor appointments or simply spending the day with a friend. (more…)
Have you ever poured your heart out to someone only to have them respond by turning the conversation right back to themselves? Nothing is more frustrating! Part of developing good communication skills is to learn that sometimes the best advice is no advice at all, and that all most of us really want is for someone to listen to us. This not only applies to family and friends but when caring for patients, as well. (more…)
I have always believed grief to be the most cumbersome of human emotion. Whether a beloved family member, friend, or patient we have bonded with, grief over loss is probably the most painful thing that any of us will ever experience. But, is grief bestowed upon us as punishment for loving so deeply? I don’t believe so. (more…)
If you are caring for a patient or loved one who is bed-bound, one of the greatest risks imposed on them is that of decubitus ulcers, commonly referred to as bedsores or pressure ulcers.
Bedsores can be caused by a number of reasons - immobility, impaired sensory perception, decreased blood supply to the tissues, poor nutritional status, friction and shearing forces, increased moisture and being elderly. (more…)
Can you believe it! It’s that time of year again. Getting ready for summer is an essential step when caring for a patient who is ill, elderly, or doesn’t fare well in the hot weather. (more…)
Being a caregiver can be one tough job. And, like any other job, if you’re not equipped properly, overwhelming issues such as stress from heavy lifting, toileting or pain management may lead to caregiver burnout.
Caregiver burnout is characterized by emotional, physical and mental exhaustion. It’s associated with a change in attitude - one from positive and caring, to that of negative and indifferent. (more…)
