Showing posts with label Respite for Caregivers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Respite for Caregivers. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Many paid caregivers lack health literacy skills :: May 4, 2011 ... American Medical News

More than a third of the people paid to care for seniors are not health literate, and 60% wrongly interpret the instructions on prescription labels, a study says.

Caregivers often are hired by families to help care for seniors with cognitive loss, dementia or Alzheimer's disease and who have trouble performing daily activities such as toileting, bathing, cooking and shopping. This makes it especially important that caregivers have the ability to understand health-related instructions, said Lee A. Lindquist, MD, MPH, lead author of the study published in May's Journal of General Internal Medicine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21161420/).

Caregivers' poor health literacy skills can affect patient care, said Dr. Lindquist, a geriatrician at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

See also:

Death By Handwriting, By Maureen Glabman, Trustee Magazine :"Most Americans don't receive any formal handwriting instruction beyond the third grade, so how we learned to write then is more or less what we are stuck with for the rest of our lives. It's a worn joke that when someone writes poorly, we tell him he could be a doctor. But a medical error due to misinterpretation of illegible writing is no laughing matter--and for physicians it is a major threat to patient safety. The Joint Commission does not know precisely how often hospitals are reproached for handwriting deficiencies, but the problem is believed to be substantial. "The Joint Commission almost always finds instances where handwriting is of poor quality," says Peter Angood, M.D., JCAHO vice president and chief patient safety officer. The standard that encompasses handwriting legibility also includes stipulations that medical records be dated, that patients be identified and that diagnoses are supported, among other requirements, so it is difficult to sort out individual deficiencies."
http://www.trusteemag.com/trusteemag_app/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=TRUST.../PubsNewsArticleGen/data/2005/0510TRU_FEA_Handwriting

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Monday, May 16, 2011

Caring for an Ill Spouse, and for Other Caregivers

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Andrew Lopez, RN
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Sunday, May 15, 2011

Care Givers, Caregiving, Nursing Homes & Long Term Care

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The more you work at just being yourself, the more likely you'll feel purposeful and significant in your life.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Alzheimer's Caregivers Need Care Too - MSN Health - Aging Well

The growing number of people with Alzheimer's disease in the United States means that more people are becoming caregivers, a responsibility that health experts warn can pose risks to body and mind.

But caregivers can take various steps to protect their health, says Rebecca Axline, a clinical social worker at the Nantz National Alzheimer Center in Houston.

To keep stress in check, for instance, she emphasizes the need to find time and ways to reenergize, to keep meaningful things in your life and to remain social and participate in your favorite activities.

Axline also offered communication techniques that can help reduce caregivers' stress and frustration:

  • Always identify yourself and call the person you're caring for by name.
  • Talk slowly and clearly. Use short sentences and break down instructions into steps.

Click on the "via" link for the rest of the article.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Avoiding Caregiver Burnout, By Donna Cardillo, RN, MA, The Dr. Oz Show

According the National Alliance on Caregiving, over 65 million Americans care for sick, disabled and elderly family members and friends, saving the healthcare system $375 billion dollars annually. But the caregiver or care partner is often overlooked in the process as the focus is on the person who requires the care.

 

Caregivers often neglect their own self-care and suffer in silence. They have a high rate of stress-related illnesses and disorders, addictions and even worse. Additionally, the stress, if not tended to, can even lead to abuse of the loved one they care for.

 

What Is a Caregiver/Care Partner?

 

I didn’t view myself as a caregiver when my husband was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis because he didn’t need help with dressing or eating. Yet I began to take on responsibility for doctor’s visits, therapy appointments and pharmacy trips, as well as provide emotional support for him and family members.

 

I would protest: “I am not a caregiver.” But then I read descriptions of my situation on the National Family Caregivers Association website  www.nfcacares.org and finally had to admit that I was stressed, overwhelmed, approaching burnout, and in need of help and support.  

Click on the "via" link for the rest of the article.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

My neighbor depends more on me for care than on her own family. Caring.com

Last updated: March 30, 2011

iStock_000009798839XSmall

My neighbor and I are both widows and have enjoyed several years of going out to dinner, sharing errands, and even taking a few weekend trips. Last fall she got lung cancer, which has spread. Since her daughter lives two hours away, I took it on myself to check on her daily, provide some meals, and even take her to chemotherapy and other appointments. I was glad to do this -- that's what friends and neighbors should do.

But it's now become a full-time job, and I have my own health concerns. My neighbor is starting to treat me differently, expecting that I take her places and getting upset if I have other plans. I've hinted to the daughter that I can't take on this much care. But now I feel stuck -- and guilty for not doing more.

How do I get her daughter to provide the care that family should give, so that I can go back to being a good neighbor and friend?

Click on the "via" link for the rest of the article.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

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Saturday, February 19, 2011

Caring For Elderly Parents: Top 10 Concerns | cdaamerica

By AgingCare.com

Parents care for their children, to strengthen body and mind, and
nurture them forward to independence. Siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even friends and neighbors often join in the family circle, helping to care for the kids. Such is what caregiving is all about, a nurturing,
supportive commitment by family and extended family members. Many of us have the opportunity to return that same level of commitment and support to Mom, Dad or both as they age.

It is time to return the favor, not just individually, but as a family, to
provide support where necessary and preserve your parents’ ability and
independence as long as possible. What are the 10 most important family concerns in caregiving for a parent? Consider:

1. Rally the Troops

Deborah Halpern, Communications Director for the non-profit National Family Caregiver’s Association, urges that caregiving your parent is not a one-person job or burden. Instead, you should have a family team that includes friends and neighbors, each with a role and responsibility in the caregiving process. There must be a ringleader, according to Halpern, who contacts each family member with the invitation or challenge to”step up to the plate and help.”

Consider the team concept as akin to hiring for different jobs in a company.
Everyone is good at something, while he or she may be inept or less than
qualified in another task or field. When several family members are involved,
even for just a few hours each week, the burden on the primary caregiver is
reduced significantly. Sharing responsibilities also brings more family members
into active contact, sharing, support, monitoring, understanding and visiting
with Mom or Dad.

Click on the "via" link to read the rest of the article.

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Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

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Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Website offers top tips on caring for people with learning disabilities | News | Nursing Times

A new website, offering practical tips on supporting people with learning disabilities, is proving popular with healthcare providers for its hands-on approach.

www.Netbuddy.org.uk provides solutions to issues many learning disability nurses will recognise, such as: how to administer medicines comfortably, how to manage constipation, how to communicate with someone who is non-verbal and how to cope with challenging behaviour.

All the tips are contributed by people with first-hand experience of learning disability.

Netbuddy co-founder Deborah Gundle said: “Netbuddy appeals to healthcare professionals because the advice is very practical, and it comes directly from people with everyday experience of learning disability. It’s a goldmine of useful information from people who really know what they’re talking about.

Since www.Netbuddy.org.uk launched in September 2010, the site has had thousands of hits from parents, carers and healthcare providers - either picking up ideas or contributing tips.

“Parents immediately recognised how useful Netbuddy could be and started using it straight away,” said Deborah. “Now we are getting more healthcare professionals to the site, which is fantastic. We particularly want to hear from learning disability nurses, as they will have lots of useful ideas to pass on.

“We really believe that Netbuddy can make a huge difference in providing excellent quality of care for people with learning disabilities.”

Parents, caregivers of special needs children will find this article of interest.

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******************************************************

Sincerely,

Andrew Lopez, RN
Nursefriendly, Inc. A New Jersey Corporation.
38 Tattersall Drive, Mantua New Jersey 08051
http://www.nursefriendly.com info@nursefriendly.com ICQ #6116137
856-415-9617, (fax) 415-9618

150,000 + Nurse-Reviewed & Approved Nursing Links

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