Caregiving for someone who is severely ill can be a difficult and time-consuming work. For the new caregiver, taking on the responsibility of a new caregiver in an already hectic schedule is a challenge. This article will provide some organization techniques that can reduce the amount of time and effort needed to accomplish the tasks required and help to ease your anxiety at the same time.
Communication
During my caregiving experience, I discovered that communication with friends and family members to provide updates an overwhelming task. Communicating the same data several times is time-consuming. To share information with a wider, yet interested audience, consider creating a blog or e-mail to update information once instead of multiple times. Responses to blog comments or e-mail messages can be made at a time convenient for the caregiver instead of each when a phone rings. Gaining control over the needed communication can reduce stress and anxiety associated with many interruptions in your day. I discovered that using a blog to facilitate communication can also help reduce issues that arise from misinterpreting information when it goes from one person to another. E-mails or blogs serve as an "single source" of truth.
Medical History
A person who is severely ill usually requires frequent appointments with specialists, doctors, and hospitals. The most frequent and frequently asked questions by health care professionals included medications taken by the patient. In addition, there were frequent inquiries about other health care providers such as insurance prescriptions, surgeries, pharmacy visits, and allergies. Recording this information into one place, either in writing or electronically will ensure that you have all of the details readily available when needed. When maintained, this helps to reduce medical errors. Trying to recall information at a hospital or during an emergency can be difficult and often results in the omission of vital information or sharing incorrect information. A side benefit is a reduced stress level for the caregiver.
Medication List
A seriously ill patient often requires a variety of medication. Again, if you keep all medications in a single location along with a dosing schedule you help to avoid mistakes with medication. This also lets you assign the responsibility of providing medication to others as needed, giving you the freedom to divide the burden and take on other tasks. When maintained, the medication list provides an easy recall of information needed by health care providers and emergency services.
Medicine Information
If you are taking multiple medications, the potential of side effects is significantly increased. Pharmacies offer medicine information sheets when dispensing medications. The information on medicine is also available through the Internet. Keeping the medicine information together in one place allows you to find quickly the information you require, if you suspect the one you care for has problems with medication. If you suffer from a serious illness you realize that many doctors are prescribing medications. This list will help you keep all doctors updated to help avoid issues at the beginning. If an adverse reaction does happen, doctors often have alternatives to medication.
Calendar
The patient who is severely ill usually requires numerous health care appointments. I suggest using a calendar to keep track of each appointment. It does not really matter whether it is an electronic or paper version. The calendar is accessible and reduces the difficulties of planning too much on one day, or creating multiple appointments.
None of the tips I provide are revolutionary but each of these small organizational tips add up over time. Our minds are incredible but often overwhelmed when we try to address too many topics at one time or try to remember too many things. Freeing the mind from Companion the details allows you to focus on the truly important topics or other tasks. Eliminating the mind from the details can help ease the stress that comes with you are responsible for caring for your loved ones.
Suddenly a Caregiver
Sharing a family's experience along with lessons to help you deal with the unanticipated task of being a caregiver for your family.