Top Tips from Our Family CareGivers


This month's top insights from CareGivers like you:



"Your loved one's laundry is done and put away but your own is sitting in a pile (or, if you're lucky, in the dryer)."– dee1963


Caregiving when you have a chronic illness. How do you handle it?


"There is no ‘secret' formula. Each of us has to find their own answer, and thank you for doing your part!"– ferris1


"I try my best to get good uninterrupted sleep when possible to function more efficiently so that my pain and brain fog isn't intensified, so I make sleep my priority…Exercise (stretching), meditation, and deep breathing exercises are things I do to try to keep my pain levels in check on stressful days. Somedays I'm successful, but sometimes not so much."– pleasant1

Preparing for the death of a parent

"I don't think one can ever actually "Prepare" for the death of their parent. Perhaps the knowledge that they are no longer suffering some indignities they would never have accepted makes it doable."– JeanetteB


What to focus on when searching for a nursing home


"Don't be too influenced by attractive settings. I'll bet dad would rather have friendly and compassionate care than a beautiful new building. (Not that you can't have both; just don't give the setting a lot of weight.)"– jeannegibbs


How to help a loved one pay their bills


"If she's still fairly sharp and you can drop in every week, get a cute decorative basket for incoming mail, for the wall or to set out. Tell her put just the bills in there right away when she brings in the mail. Set up a system for her to do herself—haha. You'll actually be doing it with her each week. Type up a little bill schedule in chronological order: company name, due date, target amount usually paid, then put an underlined area to be checked off in pen on same line for each item beside Paid__, Last Paid____, Check No._____.Get a cheap box of manila folders. Label the folders from A to Z, then place them in a plastic or cardboard box in the closet. Put her "bill schedule" on a clipboard, toss it in the front of the box where she, (and you), can easily glance at it and tell what is going on. File the customer's retention copies alphabetically in the folders. She will undoubtedly see that you are helping her stay organized. Then, as she becomes more forgetful, she'll still recognize her system. It won't look foreign to her and will coincide with her checkbook record. You can get the box out together, glance at the calendar and see what needs paid this week. You can write out the checks to speed things up, have her sign them and help stuff envelopes. I bought some stamps and return address labels too, to keep in the ‘kit' to speed things up."– New2this

Where to hide medications to avoid an accidental overdose


"Hide it someplace that you frequently go and he seldom goes - maybe the laundry room? Don't be seen bringing meds out of that room. Fix them up while he's sleeping or while you're making wash day noises - like running the dryer."– sherry1anne


Making the move from Independent Living to Assisted Living


"Try to make this transition sound as positive as possible. Emphasize how much freedom you have and that you live in your own apartment; your meals are prepared and served in the dinning room; I believe they come in every so often and clean your apartment for you; they have activities; they do check on your health vitals from time to time; and very often they provide transportation to a doctor's appointment.Also, emphasize that assisted living is not a nursing home. You may even want to take her on a tour of one and eat lunch there."– cmagnum

Strategies to spot (and prevent) a UTI

"Make sure your mother is drinking plenty of fluids and also try to incorporate four to eight ounces of cranberry juice into her diet. Don't get the kind that is essentially glorified apple juice because how much cranberries is one really consuming? Look for the one that is 100 percent juice. You can dilute it with some water."– dle1182

"One of the first things that alerts me to a UTI with my mom is the odor in her urine. You'll know from that, as will everyone else. Then we face at least two nights and days without sleep along with the delirium usually."– donnanehus

How often should you visit a loved one who's just been placed in memory care?

"Dad needs to get acclimated to the place. He needs to depend on his new staff for everything. Maybe see him once a week or twice. This is where it gets sketchy, you don't know how he does after you leave. I was told to make sure a staff member has Dad to occupy him while I leave the premises, so he doesn't see me go. This helps so Dad doesn't feel abandoned. Then I was told to call about ten minutes after I leave to see how Dad reacted to my visit and my departure. Make it happy, make it fun, give goodies to him and the staff, and make it a short visit, 15-30 minutes."- IloveMom


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