Check List for Caring For Someone With Special Health Care Needs--Vertigo, Onset of dementia, Mobility Issues, Sleep and Eating Issues
Here's a note I wrote to my End of LIfe Doula private FB Group. Maybe the topics will be covered in out next monthly call in September 2018. Still, these are matters that anyone may come upon whether helping someone with a short term matter or a longer term set of concerns. Whatever the person's age, the functioning levels may require certain kinds of medical, social, psychological and other support.
This post endeavors to prevent downward spirals and to identify some 'tricky symptoms' which can be troubling and even depressing for the person in need as well as those caring for the 'sick or compromised' person. Often there will be gaps in care or knowledge even among a few professionals such as medical doctors, physical therapists, neurologists and social workers.
Any caregivers should have a Caregiver Agreement with all aspects of work and compensation clarified and ideally run by an attorney to ensure all parties are protected and keeping up with the legal requirements whether family or others.
Confusion can arise if an elder for instance verbally agrees to pay someone but does not do so in a timely manner even if bills are sent to their POA or other responsible party who may have verbally agreed to pay the bills. IF the elder dies without having paid, the other person may not be legally bound to make good on the bills,
While people may have a certain period to file a bill in probate court, there may be added fees to the employer if found liable for the bill, including employee insurance and fines if that was not in place. Again an attorney should be consulted early on or other help through a Legal Aid program or at least the library to begin to understand the likely implications.
I hope to develop more of the comprehensive 'helpful responses' that I feel would be helpful. But first, taking time to identify the 'illusive troubling symptoms' and the feelings a person may bump into such as feeling 'between a rock and a hard place, no way to win or even like 'it's the end of the road' if there is not a clear path to resolving the matters or addressing the symptoms. Perhaps basic aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen might help but some people are averse to taking such medications.
Some suggest a few drops of CBD oil where it's legal whether topically on arthritic knees or possibly internally on toast or with flavored cod liver oil.' Checking with one's doctor will clarify what is covered and possible to have prescribed. None of this is given as medical or legal advice. The overall idea that these can be very complex matters to address since they can come up over time, it may be hard for a person to ask for help or explain what is needed and for the medical people to take everything into consideration.
A battery of tests may be run to rule out a stroke or tumor or illness etc, such as an MRI or CAT scan, have blood work done and so on. Taking family and cultural history into account as well as life stress and previous health history is reasonable to write down and begin to chart with dates and keep track of reports. A list of phone numbers for family, friends, doctors and others would makes sense to have handy.
Keeping track of diet and activity, bowel movements and urine amounts and color could also prove helpful. In addition noting blood pressure, blood sugar levels and oxygen levels can be helpful. Being aware of medications and the side effects would be reasonable as well. Having regular medical appointments to keep abreast of symptoms and therapies would be helpful.
Thanks, I would love a checklist or app with 'things to try' for 'dizziness, feeling movement like waves or galloping, etc' that often prompts someone to want to change position from sitting to lying down or otherwise transitioning and may affect the ability to sleep soundly for long periods of time.
Also the tips for 'monitoring fluid intake of water, gatorade or electrolyte drinks, having some 'sodium pills' etc and even foods to use or to avoid to keep sodium and potassium levels in balance. Understanding the interplay of how the amount and type of fluids may affect one's Na/K levels or factor in proper hydration which can impact pain levels and conditions such as tight muscles.
The risk of a muscles atrophying if not used would also be helpful to warm people about and give ideas of how to avoid since the condition can set in over a matter of days and weeks. If a leg cannot straighten, it cannot bear weight, so maintaining muscle strength and flexibility is very important and may require some physical therapy or assisting the movement of a person doing exercises.
Basic PT exercises for each set of muscles are likely online but again the importance of having proper routines and other equipment readily available would be proactive and preventive. The equipment may include 'armless--arms that can flip up to allow transfers more smoothly' wheelchairs and commodes, and use of a transfer board'.
Seeing youtubes or having instruction early on about that would make sense if there's any indication of a person declining or being a fall risk. Also having person sleep on a mattress that is on a run on the floor may be a simple way to avoid any falls from bed when standing or if prone to get up and not be standing or slipping out or being asleep and sitting up (and rocking or otherwise losing one's balance.)
Hope that's not Way Too Much, but these little details can be lost in the shuffle. Also having'enough people to care for one other with high needs or 24/7 etc would be good to spell out in terms of the kind of care, food, transport, appointment support and housekeeping, laundry and organization help would make sense'.
Having back up and preventing burn out should be discussed early on and often especially during times of transition and set up. People with an awareness of the financial resources a family or gofundme could tap or raise for short-term help to sort through other long term options would make sense. Ideally every state and community could have many important services highlighted and volunteers to go over checklists and phone numbers, ways to follow up and so on.
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