Being Prepared for Changes

Caregiving often comes with new responsibilities and unfamiliar tasks, yet most caregivers never receive education. The following information may help you with a current situation or prepare you for what may happen.

Hospice is end-of-life care that involves a team-oriented approach to quality medical care and pain/symptom management. This includes emotional and spiritual support tailored to your loved ones needs. HPCNC provides medical equipment and medications related to the terminal illness. Support is given to you as a caregiver including counselors to talk to, nurses and aides to teach you hands-on care, volunteers to provide respite and chaplains to aid with spiritual issues.

In addition to hospice, there may be other community resources that can help you and your loved one. Find out the local organizations that offer services to ease your burden. This can include meals on wheels, caregiver training classes, transportation, friendly visitors and respite care so you can take a break.

Make sure the person you are caring for has told you their wishes for their end-of-life care in the event you are asked to make decisions for them. It is important for you to talk about issues including thoughts about potential life-prolonging treatments.

Advance directives are tools that enable people to write down their preferences on a legal form and appoint someone to speak for them if they are no longer able to speak for themselves. A living will, health care power of attorney, financial power of attorney and a plan for funeral arrangements can help ensure peace of mind for you and your loved one.

Preparing your home for Caregiving 

Many caregivers are caring for a disabled, terminally ill family or friend in their own home. Unfortunately, most homes are not designed for caregiving. Modifications can make it easier and safer for the person to be cared for in the home. Take some time to look closely at each room where your loved one may be spending time and pay special attention to the bedroom, bathroom and hallways. Installing things such as grab bars in the shower, stool riser for the toilet or nonskid mats on the bathroom floor and bathtub can prevent slipping.
    
Ask your health care team for advice on what kinds of changes can be made around the house in order to bring comfort and safety to those being cared for. Some things you may want to pay close attention to are devices such as fire alarms. Make sure there are working smoke alarms and fire extinguishers throughout the house. Also, place emergency numbers, such as fire, hospital and 911 along with other important contact numbers by the phone or in another convenient location. Install nightlights and handrails in the hallways. This can make moving from room to room easy and safe.
    
If your family member or friend is disabled, make sure that they have a clear path through each room. Move rugs or raised room dividers that would be easy to trip over and make sure there are no slippery floors. Install a wheel chair ramp by the front door and if your loved one is weak, attach a tray to the wheel chair to prevent falls. It is also a convenient place to set drinks, food or magazines. It is important to ensure the wheels are securely locked when doing transfers or if the chair is sitting on an incline.
    
Make sure the bed has guardrails. If it doesn’t, you can place the wheel chair or other guards next to the bed and position your family member or friend in the middle of the bed so they can turn over without a fear of falling.
    
Your local durable medical equipment company (DME) or community organizations such as Centers for Independent living or Area Agency on Aging may be able to assist you in finding local organizations to help modify your home for safety.

Area on Aging Information:

Area on Aging Weld County
1551 North 17th Avenue
Greeley, CO 80632
Phone: (970) 353-3800 Extension 3323

Larimer County Office on Aging
1501 Blue Spruce Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 498-6807

Center for Independent Living:

Choices for Independent Living
1024 Ninth Ave., Suite E
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (303) 335-8682

Disabled Resource Services
640 E. Eisenhower Blvd
Loveland, CO  80537-3954
Phone: (970) 667-0816

Meals on Wheels:

Meals on Wheels of Weld County
2131 9th Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: (970) 353-9738
www.mealsonwheelsgreeley.org

Meals on Wheels Loveland
437 North Garfield Avenue
Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (970) 667-0311
www.mealcall.org

Alzheimer’s Association:

Weld County Alzheimer’s Association
3301 8th Avenue #100
Evans, CO 80620
Phone: (970) 392-9202
www.alz.org

Larimer County Alzheimer’s Association
415 Peterson Street
Fort Collins, CO 80524
Phone: (970) 472-9798
www.alz.org

My Care Community

Care Community, a website for caregivers aiding someone with a life threatening or limiting illness can be helpful to family members. Eclara Health sponsors the website at www.mycarecommunity.org. This resource is designed to lend support to caregivers, addressing the specific issues most care providers face. The site offers various articles, giving professional advice to care providers about planning for what’s ahead. These articles give specific ways caregivers can take time for themselves, and how they can prepare for the end of life. Care Community offers useful ways for caregivers to stay connected with family, friends and their community.

A personal “Private Care Page,” is one of the tools a caregiver can access through Care Community. The “Private Care Page” can only be seen by the care provider, family or friends of the loved one, currently facing a life threatening or limiting illness. This page gives the care provider an opportunity to post an online journal, calendar and message board. This is a useful communication tool that allows the whole family to keep an up-to-date account on the loved one. This can be extremely beneficial because this page allows the care provider to ask for support or assistance with certain caregiver undertakings, when needed. A care provider can make use of the website not only as a way to utilize support through their family and friends, but also through their community. 

Personal stories from other caregivers around the country are included providing advice, blogs and discussion boards. Care Community is funded through a National Institutes for Health grant; their mission is to support the needs and courageous work of caregivers. Registration for the website is free, fast and confidential. There are no advertisements and money requests are not allowed on this site. To create your own account, please visit www.MyCareCommunity.org .