Caregiver School

Part 9 Lesson 2 When it is Time to Say Good Bye

May 03, 2019 19:48 - 22 minutes - 31.6 MB

In the previous lesson of caregiver school you learned about the natural process the physical body goes through as it prepares for death. And as I mentioned in this lesson I want to focus on the psychological and emotional needs of the dying and those that care for them. As a hospice social worker my focus was on the emotional well being of everyone not just the patient but also the entire family and especially the caregiver. My work with caregivers is the reason I created this education pro...

Part 9 Lesson 1: Letting Go

May 03, 2019 19:33 - 29 minutes - 40.6 MB

There comes a time when we must begin the process of letting go of our loved one. When the caregiving journey is coming to an end. For some the end is fast and unexpected while for others it's a longer and slower transition. When the disease has progressed to a point that the doctor can offer no more treatment or our loved decides "no more". But sometimes it is the family caregiver who needs to make the difficult decision to stop treatment. Accepting that the journey is ending can be emotion...

Part 8 Lesson 1: Caring for the Caregiver

May 03, 2019 19:18 - 23 minutes - 33 MB

In today's busy world we all suffer from times of stress and anxiety. Add the burden of being a family caregiver and you may feel constantly overwhelmed by stress. For some it is a constant low hum present in the background for others it is a racing heart and a feeling of always being on edge. Learning to manage the stress in your life begins by learning to understand what that word means for you and how it is impacting your enjoyment of life. Stress is different for everyone, while some of ...

Part 7 Lesson 2: Managing Difficult Behaviors

May 03, 2019 19:04 - 26 minutes - 36.3 MB

Usually family caregivers are dealing with changes in behavior or cognitive functioning long before any diagnosis of dementia is made. The forgetfulness seems different or more persistent. You are aware that some days are better then others. One day everything seems to be fine and the next day they're not. Most diseases that cause dementia will follow a predictable path of disease progression and knowing the stages can help family caregivers plan and prepare. Having an accurate diagnosis a...

Part 7 Lesson 1: Understanding Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease

May 03, 2019 18:50 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB

Long distance caregiving can be quite stressful responsibility. Managing affairs from a far and worrying about the "what if's" can be overwhelming. When you are not with your loved one on a consistent basis and are left to wonder and worry it helps to know what to look for when you are with them. A long distance caregiver needs to know what to look for to know if they need to step in and take action or to stand back and leave well enough alone. There are some warning signs that every careg...

Part 6 Lesson 3: Long Distance Caregiving

May 03, 2019 18:38 - 14 minutes - 20.8 MB

Long distance caregiving can be quite stressful responsibility. Managing affairs from a far and worrying about the "what if's" can be overwhelming. When you are not with your loved one on a consistent basis and are left to wonder and worry it helps to know what to look for when you are with them. A long distance caregiver needs to know what to look for to know if they need to step in and take action or to stand back and leave well enough alone. There are some warning signs that every careg...

Part 6 Lesson 2: When Professional Help is Needed

May 03, 2019 18:27 - 32 minutes - 44.6 MB

So what do you do when your loved one needs more care then you have time or skill to provide? As your loved one moves from independence to increasing dependence it is the caregivers task to adapt the environment to meet those changing needs. But at some point a family caregiver will need to rely the expertise of a professional caregiver. Whether these professionals provide this care in the home or in a facility the services they provide are an invaluable resource for the family caregiver.

Part 6 Lesson 1: Staying at Home

May 03, 2019 18:12 - 23 minutes - 32.1 MB

Helping your loved one manage their day to day activities is different for every caregiver. It varies because some caregivers live with the one they are caring for, some live near by and others live far away. And as you learned in the first part of caregiver school their are different caregiving journeys, some of you are caring for someone is just getting older, others their loved one has a disease or physical disability and some of you are caring for someone who is physically healthy but st...

Part 5 Lesson 3: Do I Need a Lawyer?

May 03, 2019 16:56 - 19 minutes - 26.6 MB

Do I need a Lawyer is a question everyone asks when talking about advanced directives. "It depends" was the answer the attorney gave to a caregiver at the elder law seminar I attended. A very frustrating and unhelpful response but actually it is the right one. But what does "it" depend on? Well everyone's circumstances are different and laws vary widely from state to state, so a lot depends on who you are and where you live. But I thought I would take some time to help walk you through a b...

Part 5 Lesson 2: Getting Their Affairs in Order

April 22, 2019 16:13 - 23 minutes - 32.5 MB

Being a family caregiver involves juggling a lot of different roles and taking on many new responsibilities. I always encourage families to divide these responsibilities among all of them so that the burden doesn't overwhelm just one person. But whether these responsibilities are taken on by one person or shared by a few think of managing your loved one's affairs as three unique areas of responsibility one of medical agent, another as financial power of attorney and as third as Executor of t...

Part 5 Lesson 1: Understanding Advanced Directives

April 22, 2019 16:08 - 15 minutes - 21.2 MB

It’s time to get your affairs in order” the words we dread hearing. It signals that the end is near and that there is nothing more that can be done. But the reality is that we need to have put our “affairs in order” long before tragedy strikes. In this lesson I'll cover the general topic of advanced directives, what issues they address, why they're needed and when they need to be prepared.

Part 4 Lesson 3: Understanding Medical Insurance

April 22, 2019 16:02 - 20 minutes - 27.9 MB

If you have been helping your loved one through the medical maze then you probably already have some understanding of the world of medical insurance. Terms like co-pays deductibles, out of pocket, out of network, HIPPA, informed consent and will all become a second language to you the longer you are a caregiver. The focus of this lesson is undestanding when medical insurance will pay for the cost of care.

Part 4 Lesson 2: Managing Medications

April 22, 2019 15:58 - 9 minutes - 16.7 MB

The most common solution to a physical problem is a medication. This can be as simple as an over the counter medication purchased in any drug store or complicated prescription and set of instructions to be followed. Most people can manage their medications on their own for a long time with little or no problems. Over time they develop a system of organizing and taking their medications. And since most start out with just one or two and add more over time they usually just adapt and are una...

Part 4 Lesson 1: Diagnosis & Prognosis

April 22, 2019 15:49 - 19 minutes - 29 MB

Many caregiving journeys begin with a diagnosis of some kind. You or your loved one begins to notice changes or an increase of symptoms that are a cause of concern. For some it is obvious that something is wrong but for others they may be wondering whether this just old age or something else. Trying to decide if this something to just live with or is it a problem that can be fixed. What usually follows is a trip to the doctor to find some answers and the journey into the medical world begins...

Part 3 Lesson 4: Creating a Plan of Care

April 22, 2019 15:34 - 10 minutes - 25.7 MB

A plan of care is just what the title implies a plan of how to provide the needed care to an individual. Professional caregivers are required to create this written document, which details the client's strengths weakness, abilities, disabilities, level of independence and areas of need. It covers every aspect of the client's physical, mental and emotional status. It then identifies areas of need, establishes a plan of how to meet those needs and who will provide the care or service. Fa...

Part 3 Lesson 3: Effective Communication

April 22, 2019 15:20 - 18 minutes - 31.6 MB

Since this part of caregiver school is about holding a family meeting and creating an effective care plan, I would be remiss to not discuss some of the pitfalls of poor communication. Many families have the best intentions in communicating but never learned how to do so effectively. They think they are trying to start a conversation and soon realize they have started a confrontation. Effective communication is a skill that can be learned. So as a family caregiver initiating these family di...

Part 3 Lesson 2: When Conversations Go Wrong

April 22, 2019 15:05 - 14 minutes - 28.2 MB

In the previous lesson we discussed the importance of having a family meeting or at least conversations. In theory talking to your loved one and your family about their care needs, who will do what, when and how, should be easy - in theory. But the reality is - that having open and honest conversations about the difficult subject of someone increasing disability or incapacitation really only happens in Hallmark movies. But most of us don't live in Hallmark movies and reality is a lot more ...

Part 3 Lesson 1: The Family Meeting

April 22, 2019 14:45 - 13 minutes - 23.7 MB

So as we continue on the caregiver's journey we have already covered some essential first steps, hopefully by now you have a better understanding of your current role and the path your caregiving journey might take. Now armed with all of this knowledge and information it is time to figure out what to do next. Now is the time to make a plan or rather a series of plans. Many experts who work with caregivers will at this stage strongly advice you to hold a family meeting. This is where you wi...

Part 2 Lesson 4: The Needs Assessment

April 22, 2019 14:28 - 11 minutes - 22.1 MB

Family caregivers struggle with knowing when to step in and help and when to leave well enough alone. But how do you know what to do and when? Maybe your 80-year-old mother is fine living alone right now with just some occasional assistance. But what additional help could she use now and what do you anticipate her needing in the future? Are there simple modifications that can be done today to avoid an injury or accident and is she able to recognize these as a need. What plan does she already...

Part 2 Lesson 3: When Driving Becomes a Problem

April 22, 2019 14:18 - 13 minutes - 22.3 MB

Are you wondering if your elderly loved should drive? When is it time to stop someone from driving or should you intervene at all? As a family caregiver you might be the one who has to make this very difficult decision. So how do you know? Is there an age when someone is too old to drive? Maybe, but age alone is not the biggest risk factor in one’s ability to drive. As you think about limiting or eliminating your loved one’s ability to drive remember that you are not just taking away key...

Part 2 Lesson 2: When there is cause for concern

April 22, 2019 14:06 - 10 minutes - 21.1 MB

In this lesson we continue our discussion of normal aging and focusing on how it affects our brain function and its emotional toll. I will also cover how to tell when some changes might be a sign of something more serious. With normal aging our brains and cognitive or thinking skills will slow down, become inefficient but disease or disorders of the brain will destroy or impair these skills which is VERY different. An aging brain will have you forget where you left your keys a diseased b...

Part 2 Lesson 1: Understanding Normal Aging

April 22, 2019 13:52 - 12 minutes - 20.9 MB

WHEN do you become a family caregiver? You are struggling with knowing when you need to step in and help and when you need to leave well enough alone. When we care for our loved one we want our help to be received with a "thank you so much, I don't know what I would do without you!" and not "mind you own business, I can take care of myself". Knowing where this line is can be very tricky to navigate successfully and has lead to many family conflicts. In part 2 of caregiver school you w...

Part 1 Lesson 3: The Devastating Diagnosis

April 22, 2019 13:37 - 9 minutes - 16.2 MB

For some the beginning of their journey as a family caregiver is obvious. A sudden heart attack, stroke, accident or injury requires a family member to step up and take charge. So what do you do if you are suddenly thrust into the role of family caregiver? When faced with a situation that requires a more immediate response and more definitive action plan. Priorities change, planning becomes a more urgent need and the learning curve is steeper and more critical. So here is a Practical P...

Part 1 Lesson 2: The Six Essential Steps

April 22, 2019 13:26 - 12 minutes - 20.8 MB

Many families find themselves well into the role of caregiver before they realize what has happened. Whether suddenly at a hospital bedside or slowly over time, families quickly realize just how difficult caring for someone can be at times. They search for information and answers to help make better choices and feel more in control. In my work with families, I've found that many just want to be told what to do next. When they had a plan or a set of instructions to follow they were better a...

Part 1 Lesson 1: The Four Journeys

April 19, 2019 19:47 - 11 minutes - 19.8 MB

Not all family caregivers are the same nor are they struggling with the same issues at the same time. Each of you is on a unique journey with your particular loved one and their individual needs and concerns. Some of you are more active in your loved one's care, while others have a much smaller role. Your unique circumstances can make a big difference in the amount of time or skill you will need to provide the best care. It is important to understand the different path that your caregiving...

Caregiver School Introduction

April 19, 2019 19:46 - 6 minutes - 14.4 MB

Are you one of the 40 million? ~ That is the estimated number of unpaid family caregivers in the United States today. And as our population ages and life spans are longer more of us will be finding ourselves caring either for an elderly parent or an aging spouse at some time. Family caregivers are usually unpaid and certainly not trained professionals. Most new family caregivers greatly underestimate the enormity of the task ahead. Many feel like they are “flying by the seat of their pan...

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