Information on Writing Down Observations

Writing down observations when caring for a senior is very important. Unfortunately, many caregivers do not do this. When managing or coordinating care for a senior, these written observations can provide a wealth of knowledge, especially for new caregivers who are not familiar with the patient. Below is a list that contains some of the benefits of writing observations and some of the things that should be noted.

1. Make sure to note the abilities of the senior. Caregivers should note how they function mentally and physically.

2. Always have a written list of available family members. This can help when the senior needs additional care or the caregiver requires medical information.

3. Make notes about the physical environment in which the senior lives. These notes should include whether the environment is accessible and if it can be adapted at a reasonable cost.

4. Caregivers should also write down their other responsibilities, including at home, work and in their community. This will help them manage their time more effectively.

5. Caregivers also need to keep track of their own health and physical abilities.

6. Financial resources should always be noted, both for the caregiver and the senior receiving the care. This includes available insurance, end-of-life documents and the existence of healthcare.

Source: NFCACares.org

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

App Provides Information for Caregivers

The Geriatrics Cultural Navigator is a new App from iPhone that is a great tool for caregivers. When dealing with multiple patients, caregivers will often find that there are different races and cultures that have an effect on the decisions made regarding the health care of a senior. This new App can provide a lot of essential information, helping caregivers to make the right decisions.

1. The App has been developed by the American Geriatrics Society and offers decision-making support for caregivers.

2. In nursing homes, cultural and racial sensitivity is very important, so this App can really help caregivers who are working in this setting.

3. The App provides valuable information when dealing with people from different cultures, including how to address individuals, types of nonverbal communication and culture-specific health risks.

4. Gender issues and various approaches to decision-making are also provided in the App.

5. This App is a great tool for any person who is in the role of a caregiver. Even if the caregiver is familiar with a particular culture or ethnic group, the App can provide some useful tips when dealing with patients and making important decisions in regards to health care.

6. The App also gives caregivers information on cultural traditions and the different health beliefs that seniors may have due to their ethnicity or cultural beliefs.

Source: http://changingaging.org/2010/08/24/race-eldercare-and-iphone-apps/

Home Care Jacksonville, Home Care Fort Myers FL and Senior Home Care Bradenton provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City, St. Augustine, Tallahassee, Destin, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 850-243-6464.

Home Care Florida provides home care for the elderly, aging, and seniors in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and Palm Coast. Call us today at 904-363-6699 or 904-794-9450.

3 Tools for Successfully Communicating with Aging Adults by Jake Harwood

In a sense, communication is no more or less important between Baby Boomers and aging parents than it is in any other relationship.

It’s significant that people are now paying attention to these issues. It’s unfortunate that for too many years seniors have been ignored, but finally, efforts like Home Instead Senior Care’s research are attempting to uncover the kinds of information we need for society to include and embrace people of all ages.

I was surprised by the “role” issues that emerged in Home Instead Senior Care‘s study, and I think this is a unique contribution of this research: namely, it uncovered the fact that nearly one-third of adults in the U.S. have a major communication obstacle with their parents stemming from continuation of the “parent-child role.”

It appears that some seniors may be dealing with their grown sons or daughters as if they’re children rather than mature adults and perhaps some adult children may be having trouble adjusting to the idea of occupying a more equal role in interactions with their parents.

So, what are some ways to surmount those obstacles?

1) Be aware of simple techniques and treatments

The most obvious is hearing aids. Older adults need to know about developments in hearing-aid technology.

2) Seek medical attention, if necessary

There are specific strategies for communication that can be very helpful with people who have Alzheimer’s disease, for instance, but they are fairly specific based on the disorder.

3) Be aware of assumptions

For younger people, that means simply being cognizant of the need to treat older adults as people and not as stereotypes.

Home Instead Senior Care’s research has revealed that “living” issues, such as the senior parent not being able to remain at home any longer, lead the list as the most difficult topics to discuss for Baby Boomer children.

Jake Harwood (jharwood@u.arizona.edu) is professor of communication and former director of the Graduate Program in Gerontology at the University of Arizona. His research focuses on communication and aging.

Image: pro.corbis.com