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A Caregiver Is…
(Developed by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, Inc.)
Someone who provides unpaid assistance to a spouse, relative, or friend who is ill, disabled, or needs help with basic activities of daily living. He/She may provide help with transportation to the doctor’s office, shopping, bill paying, grooming, dressing, bathing, walking, or transferring to a wheelchair. If you provide services like these, you are a caregiver.
Four Stages of Caregiving
- Stage One: Getting Started or Surviving
Recognize the impact of caregiving on your life and family, learn how to be a caregiver and find out more about the older person who needs care. Surviving is what you do to keep going when you are feeling completely helpless. Surviving consists of coping: doing what has to be done and expending ones energy just to get by.
- Stage Two: Finding Help or Searching
Accept help from family, friends, places of worship, support groups, and formal services. This is a time of acting, of moving forward from a reactive state of surviving. It is the beginning of a sense of control over emotions and your life; the awakening of a source of energy; a time for asking questions about the goals, values, and priorities of your own life.
- Stage Three: Heavy Care
Prevent caregiver burnout and injury while providing heavy care, protect your care receiver’s health and safety, and consider facility care.
- Stage Four: Letting Go or Separating
Resolve relationships, complete end-of-life decisions, use Hospice care, let yourself grieve, care for yourself, and have a plan for your life after caregiving has ended.
The four stages are part of a normal process of adaptation. By understanding how they work, caregivers can better predict their emotions and reactions, and not think they are somehow “failing” when they feel a sudden rush of uncomfortable feelings. The stages help us see how we grow through the crises and hard times of our lives. The struggles and challenges of caregiving present great sorrows at time, but also opportunities for person growth and competence.
Caregiver Checklist [ Print this checklist ]
(Developed by the Area Agency on Aging of Pasco Pinellas, Inc.)
This checklist can serve as a reminder or a starting point for caregivers. It covers medical, legal and financial issues associated with caregiving.
Medical
[ ] Referral to a physician (neurologist, psychiatrist, or geriatrician) knowledgeable about Alzheimer’s Disease.
[ ] Complete diagnostic work-up.
[ ] Discussion with the physician regarding what is happening and what to expect.
[ ] Regular medical checkups.
[ ] Determine the individual’s current level of functioning.
[ ] Know the patient’s medical history, medications, and dosages.
Caregiving
[ ] Learn as much as you can about the disease and caregiving techniques specifically helpful in coping with the disease.
[ ] Identify/attend local support group meetings.
[ ] Attend caregiver training (provided in Leon County by the Alzheimer’s Resource Center and Alzheimer’s Project of Tallahassee, Inc.).
[ ] Develop knowledge of community resources.
[ ] Develop caregiving plans, including alternate plans for the care of the patient in the event of your illness.
[ ] Determine what you are emotionally/physically able to do. Arrange for additional assistance through family, volunteers, respite care (home health care, adult day care or short-term respite care in a facility).
[ ] Making the home safe for the patient is called accident-proofing. (Click here for tips!)
[ ] Schedule regular medical care for yourself, reporting any changes in health to your physician.
Legal
[ ] Determine if the patient needs assistance to manage his or her legal/financial affairs.
[ ] Consult an Elder Law Attorney knowledgeable in issues such as Medicaid, Medicare, Guardianships, Estate Planning, Trusts and Advanced Directives. (The Florida Bar at
1-800-342-8060 can give you a list of Elder Law Attorneys).
[ ] Contact attorney for advice regarding:
- Durable Power of Attorney
- Health Care Surrogate Power of Attorney
- Living Will
- Will
- Trusts
- Guardianship
[ ] If documents have been prepared previously, know location and check that they are up to date with current state laws.
Financial
[ ] Someone should assume the responsibility for:
- Checking Account (Bill Payments)
- Savings Account
- Other Assets (Money Market, Stocks, Bonds, CDs)
- Real Estate and other property (location of deeds)
- Safety Deposit Box- - Co-signer for box access (location of box and keys)
- Security Box or home safe (location of keys or combination)
[ ] Review and determine the location of all insurance policies (Medical, Disability, House, Car, Long Term Care, Life Insurance, VA).
[ ] Check for Waiver of Premium Clause on insurance policies.
[ ] Investigate patient’s eligibility for financial assistance programs.
[ ] Determine the amount and source of all monthly income. Are any checks sent direct deposit?
[ ] If the patient is receiving Social Security, do you want to be designated as the Representative Payee?
Funeral/Burial Arrangements
[ ] Know previously made arrangements for cemetery lot, funeral, etc.
[ ] Are wishes known regarding burial/cremation?
[ ] Autopsy arrangements.
Other
[ ] Driving (You must judge when the patient can no longer safely operate a motor vehicle.
[ ] ID bracelet for Alzheimer’s Disease patient, particularly if wandering becomes a problem.
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