Idea for Caregivers - Get Arranged

Caregiving for someone who is seriously ill is difficult and time-consuming work. The new caregiver's task of absorbing the new responsibility into an already busy life can be overwhelming. This article provides some organizational tips that reduce the time and effort required to complete the essential tasks, and helps to reduce your stress at the same time.

Communication

During my caregiving experience, I discovered that communication with friends and family members for updates was an overwhelming task. Communicating the same data several times takes time. To share information with a wider, yet interested audience you could consider starting a blog or e-mail to update information once instead of multiple times. Responses to blog comments or e-mail messages can be made at a time that is convenient for the caregiver rather than each when a phone rings. Gaining control over the needed communications reduces anxiety and stress that comes with multiple interruptions throughout your day. I found that using a blog for communication has also helped to reduce the problems related to the misinterpretation of information as it is passed from one person to another. E-mail or the blog serves to be the "single source" of truth.

Medical History

A patient who is seriously ill often requires numerous visits to specialists, doctors as well as hospitals. A common and frequent question by health care professionals included medications taken by the patient. In addition, there were frequent concerns about other health professionals, insurance and pharmacy services, previous surgeries and allergies. The recording of this information into a single location, either in writing or electronically makes sure you have all the relevant information readily available in case of need. When it is maintained, this can help to prevent medical mistakes. Recalling information at a hospital or during an emergency is difficult and often leads to omission of critical information or sharing the wrong information. The other benefit is less stressful experience of the person caring for.

Medication List

A person who is severely ill frequently requires a variety of medication. Again, if you keep all medications in a single location along with a dosing schedule you can avoid mistakes with medication. This also lets you assign the responsibility of providing Caregiving medication to others as needed, giving you the freedom to divide the burden and take on other tasks. When maintained, the medication list provides an easy recall of information needed by health care providers and emergency services.

Medicine Information

If you are taking multiple medications, the potential of side effects is significantly increased. Pharmacies will provide information on medicines when dispensing medications. Medicine information is also available through the Internet. The fact that you can keep all the information about medicines in one place enables you to quickly access the information you require in the event that you suspect someone you take care of has an issue with medications. When you have a serious health issue, you discover that several doctors are prescribing medication. The list helps you keep your doctors up-to-date so that you can avoid problems from the onset. If a side effect occurs, doctors typically have other medicine options.

Calendar

The person who is seriously ill often needs multiple health visits. I recommend using a calendar to keep track of every appointment. It is not a big deal whether it's a paper or electronic version. The calendar is accessible and reduces the issues of scheduling too many appointments in one day, or creating multiple appointments.

None of the suggestions I provide are revolutionary but each of these small organizational tips add up over time. Our minds are incredible but often overwhelmed when we try to address too many topics at one time or try to remember too many things. Freeing the mind from the details allows you to focus on the truly important topics or other tasks. Freeing the mind of the details can help ease the stress that comes with you are responsible for caring for your loved ones.

Suddenly a Caregiver

A family's story and lessons learned to help you deal with the unanticipated obligation of being a caregiver for your family.

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