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Caregiver Guidelines
Many older adults, including those with dementia,
simply need basic grooming, bathing, feeding, home maintenance and
chore or comfort care services. These do not qualify as skilled
nursing care and, therefore, are not covered by Medicare. This is
when your family should consider private home care and adult day
care.
Indicators That Are Especially Appropriate for Referrals:
- Functional and Activities of Daily Living impairment especially
in persons over 70.
- Caregiver and family stress
- Confusion or memory impairment
- Depression or loneliness
- History of frequent falls or marked weakness
- Incontinence
- Malnutrition or eating problems
- Noncompliance to health care plan
- Repetitive emergency room visits or hospital admissions
Ten Warning Signs of Caregiver Stress
(Passed along to all
Caregivers courtesy of the the
Alzheimer's Association)
- Denial about the disease and its effect on the person
who's being diagnosed.
I know mom's going to get better.
- Anger at the person with Alzheimer's or others: that
no effective treatments or cures currently exist, and that people
don't understand what's going on.
If he asks me that question one more time I'll scream!
- Social withdrawal from friends and activities that
once brought pleasure.
I don't care about getting together with the neighbors anymore.
- Anxiety about facing another day and what the future
holds.
What happens when he needs more care that I can provide?
- Depression begins to break your spirit and affects
your ability to cope.
I don't care anymore.
- Exhaustion makes it nearly impossible to complete necessary
daily tasks.
I'm too tired for this.
- Sleeplessness caused by a never-ending list of concerns.
What happens if she wanders out of the house or falls and
hurts herself.
- Irritability leads to moodiness and triggers negative
responses and reactions.
Leave me alone!
- Lack of concentration makes it difficult to perform
familiar tasks.
I was so busy, I forgot we had an appointment.
- Health problems begin to take their toll, both mentally
and physically.
I can't remember the last time I felt good.
Some Things We Do at Paul's Peers Respite
Care:
- Current events and reality conversation
- Emphasis on maintenance of independence and self esteem
- Assistance in daily living activities
- Intergenerational activities with Elizabeth and Wayne Pre-school and
Union Elementary School, both in Maumee, Ohio.
- Individual and group activities
- Supervised arts and crafts
- Rest periods depending on individual need
- Continental breakfast and a nutritious lunch
- Chair exercise led by a Body Recall Specialist associated
with
St. Luke's Hospital in Maumee, Ohio.
What Paul's Peers Respite Care Needs From
The Caregiver
Before the beginning of each month that you want your
loved one to attend the respite care program, you are asked to complete
the Caregiver Information sheet. This contains a Monthly
Briefing for you to acknowledge, the Preferred Days you
request that your loved one attend in the upcoming month, and a
place to report any Client Changes since the last time you
wrote to us about your loved one.
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