Know Your Limits and Don’t Exceed Them

 Caring for a terminally ill relative is hard work and there will times when you become frustrated and burned out. This is normal. Be aware of “caregiver burnout” and if you start to feel agitated or anxious, depressed, irritable, fatigue, sleepiness, or insomnia, seek help right away. Caregiver burnout is very real and must be taken seriously.

Always Take Care of Your Needs

 It can be easy to forget about your own needs and focus solely on caring for your loved one, but if you abandon your needs it can become not only physically, but emotionally draining as well. Be sure to take necessary breaks and if you become tired, get the rest that your body requires. You should also seek the assistance of support groups. There are online and offline groups that provide support to caregivers who are caring for terminally ill family members. Seek them out and tell them exactly how you’re feeling. The members of the group will be able to relate to your situation and can offer advice to make the process easier.

In conclusion, there can be tremendous rewards and benefits to taking on the role of a caregiver to a terminally ill relative. Not only will you feel immense pride in knowing that you did a phenomenal job caring for them at home, they’ll enjoy being at home during this crucial time period.

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Get Help from a Professional

Hiring a home health care agency, like the Nurses Guild, will help relieve you of your responsibilities once in a while. Not only are they a family oriented home health care agency, but they treat their clients like family. They provide patients with complete and proper medical care, are Medicare and Medicaid accredited, and owned by nurses and a former hospital administrator. Their mission is to ensure that your loved one receives quality medical care at all times.

By hiring someone like the Nurses Guild, you can spend time doing the things you need to do to take care of you!

Get Plenty of Exercise and Sleep 

In addition to seeking assistance, you should do things to improve your overall health. For instance, you need to exercise and get enough rest. Exercise not only keeps you healthier, but it also helps you to manage stress. Add in adequate sleep to your new healthy lifestyle and to rejuvenate your mind, body, and spirit.

It’s hard to exercise if you don’t get enough sleep, and it’s hard to sleep when you don’t get enough exercise. Staying on a regular schedule helps with both.

Eat a Healthy Diet.

When we’re stressed and hungry, it’s easy to reach for the potato chips instead of something healthier, and researchers say stress hormones make us likelier to reach for foods high in fat and sugar. Having nutritious alternatives around when hunger strikes makes it easier to control what you eat, especially when we are tired, hungry, and just don’t feel like cooking.

Take Care of Your Own Health.

It is easy to put off your health care when you feel overwhelmed. If you can’t leave home, ask a home health care agency to give you a break. Caregiving is demanding even when you’re in good shape; even harder when you’re not. Knowing you are feeling your best also puts the person you are caring for at ease and makes them less likely to feel guilty.

Stay in Touch with Friends.

It’s natural to cut back on hobbies and time with friends when someone else is depending on you for care, but it’s also important to keep a sense of balance. Emotional support and relaxation are more important than ever. Attend support groups for caregivers. Connect with others who are going through similar situations and talk about your feelings. Practices like yoga or mindfulness may also calm your nerves and help you unwind.

The more relaxed you are, the stronger the bond will be between you and the person receiving your home health care. If possible, spend some time doing activities you both enjoy, like working on a puzzle or listening to music. Anything that helps you relax will be useful for both of you.

In conclusion, caregiver burnout is real and can’t be ignored. Take note of how you’re feeling and when you feel the burnout coming on, do something about it. Don’t wait until those feelings get worst. Take action now! You can do it!

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This is why hiring a professional RN to come in once, twice or three times a week to check on the patient is your next best option to ensure that the family member who needs medical care has a support system he or she can count on like clockwork.

The three reasons why a home care nurse is the second best support system are:

#1 Home care nurses do more than monitor vital signs and medicines. In fact, a well-trained and compassionate nurse, like those from Nurses Guild, also makes it a point to get to know the patient, treat the patient as a fellow human being and not as a client, and go beyond medical needs. An RN will be able to assess the patient’s personality and adjust accordingly. They also assist with nutritional and social needs. This is a relationship that can build and grow over time to the point that the nurse can anticipate the needs and desires of the patient and do what she can to accommodate provided it does not go against doctor’s or family orders.

#2 Home care nurses also address family members’ concerns.  It’s not uncommon for family members to feel intimidated by the doctor to the point that they don’t ask all the questions on their minds. When this happens, the nurse can explain with patience, and in more detail whatever it is that is bothering them about the condition. Of course, nurses don’t always have the answers, but they are in a position to ask the right persons in the medical field to satisfy family members. In many cases, nurses become closer to the family than the doctor – even if the nurse only comes in once a week.

#3 Home care nurses, at least those with Nurses Guild, are up-to-date with the latest medical technology and apps. Therefore, if the doctor or family member would like to use technology to help monitor the patient’s condition, there is no learning curve, and the technology can be implemented immediately.

Professional home care nurses are more than trained medical workers. They have compassion, empathy, and quickly become an indispensable part of the family because they assume essential responsibilities for the medical care of the patient. Their very presence in the house is reassuring and comforting.

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Some of the problems that may arise include:

1. Lack of privacy for both patient and caregiver as there is no professional delineation and the line between relative and caregiver is easily crossed.
2. Deprivation of sleep if the caregiver has a job, other responsibilities like cleaning, cooking, caring for children.
3. The heavy emotional burden of caring for an ailing relative and feeling alone.
4. Lack of training which can be a risk if the caregiver is unaware of signs or symptoms of a medical crisis.
5. Feeling of being overwhelmed by the responsibility if the patient is in a serious condition.

As of early 2017, studies show that there are as many as 45 million unpaid Americans caring for an elderly relative – referred to as informal caregivers. The dual demands of the informal caregivers has started to take its toll, costing the economy an estimated $20.6 million in lost wages in 2016, according to the Center for American Progress. In addition, informal caregivers are emotionally stretched thin and stressed. Until the time comes when the government is able to pass a national bill for paid family medical leave, informal caregivers and their patients remain at risk.

At the moment, the best alternative is professional home medical care with RNs as the caregivers. There are companies, like Nurses Guild, that can offer nursing and care services on a part time or full time basis. This will allow some relief for informal caregivers so they can take a much needed break to rest, repair emotional trauma, and take care of other personal and professional needs.

There are ways to afford professional RN care for your family member, such as public benefit programs like Medicare, private insurance, and pooling family assets and resources. The long term benefit of being able to care for a loved one and still manage other responsibilities will minimizing strained relationships with the ill member, being able to maintain your lifestyle, job, and care for other family members. Furthermore, compared to nursing homes, a home health care professional visit a few times a week is much more affordable and pleasant for both family and patient. The patient is able to stay in a familiar, comfortable environment surrounding by family, yet still have access to trained medical care.

Critical to finding the right home nursing service is knowing the terms prior to signing any agreement, including a clause that would allow you to know any policy changes or rate increases before it is implemented.

Growing old or getting sick is part of being in a family. It is inescapable and a life lesson well worth experiencing.  Whether you’re the patient or the informal caregiver, you have a valuable opportunity to strengthen family bonds and cement the love and affection you have for each other.

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The holidays can be very hectic and oftentimes it is the children, the sick, disabled, and elderly who get neglected as we frantically try to do everything to make the holidays special for everyone.

No one will argue about the holidays as being the time most anticipated by practically everyone with family and friends. However, why not try to make the holidays ever more memorable and special for those who don’t have family or who feel left out of the preparations?

For family members living in your home who cannot move around much, here are some tips on how to engage them and make them feel important:

• Hire a home health care nurse who can come in several times a week while you are running around with your errands. This nurse can do more than just watch and hover. She or he can keep your elderly, disabled, or sick family member entertained, check medical and hygiene needs, and be someone who can read, play, exercise, or chat with.
• According to Dr. Barry Lebowitz of the University of California, San Diego having someone around to go down memory lane with will empower a person who is aging or feeling depressed. Most family members are tired of hearing the same old stories so having someone come around will be a new opportunity to stimulate the memories for your elderly or disabled member. And if you’re worried about any uneasiness between the nurse and your family member, we have that covered. Our nurses know how to delicately handle the sensitivities of people and when to step back and give them space.
• Do not rearrange the furniture even if you are expecting more guests than usual. The changes might upset and stress your elderly family member. However, if there is no other choice but to move around furniture, get everyone involved in the decision-making especially the ones who stay at home most often.
• Plan the festivities and events well ahead of time and try to allot time for rest and recovery. Overstimulation can lead to accidents and further stress for the family.

For family members who live alone and prefer to enjoy a quiet holiday season:

• A home care nurse who comes in once or twice a week can also address health and social issues without stifling your family member. Independent-minded family members who don’t want to be a burden on their children or siblings might be more amenable to having a drop-in nurse checking on them. Studies show that eventually, they learn to be less rigid about their independence and welcome help and support even to point of seeking more family activities and events.
• Unfortunately, studies confirm that the holidays have the highest suicide rate because that is the time when depression is at its peak for people living alone. You can prevent this from happening to the person you love with short phone calls, messages and teaching them how to use the Internet to connect to you.

By taking care of those in need, we show our children how they should act when they grow up and have elderly or sickly family members.

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No, you don’t have to start planning for the worst yet. There are many ways you can still help a family member with a chronic condition enjoy life, be comfortable, and not fall into clinical depression. Many people with chronic conditions suffer from depression whether temporary or drawn-out. Ordinarily, adults with some form of emotional trauma face the risk of depression; 10% to 25% for women and 5% to 12% among men. Those with chronic conditions have a higher risk for depression: 25% to 33% regardless of gender.

There are warning signs that someone is experiencing sadness and despair and on the brink of a mental health problem.

These signs include:

• Teary-eyed for over two weeks
• Desire to be alone, acting withdrawn
• Changes in sleep habits
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
• No interest in fun activities
• Fatigue

If the family member with the chronic condition is unable to address the situation, even with your help, it’s time to call in a professional or seek intervention. Sometimes, intervention works best when it is non-confrontational. Having a home care nurse visit the house a few times a week will help the family member see beyond the chronic condition.

This professional can help:

• Assess the condition
• Talk to the doctors about any medication that may be causing the depression
• Assist the family member by talking and explaining the condition and offer advice on alternative activities

Nurses with experience know how to handle patients with chronic conditions. They’ve seen first-hand many similar cases and understand the situation. They know when to hold back and how to help a person hurdle physical and mental obstacles. At the same time, by having a professional in the home once in a while, you avoid two common issues; namely, pretending the problem does not exist and assuming the “problem” will go away naturally.

Depression is a Chronic Condition

It is important to understand that it is a myth that depression can cure itself. It is not a sign of mental weakness and is not always treated with medicine. It also has the potential to be fatal but is almost never permanent. It can be treated. People with chronic conditions can live happy and fruitful lives.

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• Violence on the job
• Allergies
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Unsafe conditions
• Drive-related injuries
• Needle-sticks and sharp objects injuries

Violence on the Job

Sadly, violence occurs from varying levels and can cause harm to nurses, family members, patient, or even neighbors. Each home with an invalid has specific conditions which means there is no set formula on how to handle every situation. The home care nurse has to be professional, alert, and intuitive about potential violent conditions.

Today medical health professionals have to delicately ask about the presence of guns in the house, drug use, or mental disorders to properly assess the situation. Do not be offended if the questions are posed provided they are done in a professional manner.

By definition, violence refers to an act or threat of intimidation, physical violence, harassment, or other disruptive behaviors. Thus, it also covers verbal abuse which can be done by the nurse, patient, family members, or visitors.

Allergies

Allergies become a persistent problem especially during allergy season. Having highly trained professionals take care of your ailing or elderly family member will be infinitely better because they are trained to spot allergic reactions before it turns into a full-blown issue.

It is important to note that some people who have never had an allergic reaction to anything can suddenly develop one. This may happen if the immune system is compromised or if one or more of the prescribed medicine is not interacting well with others.

Musculoskeletal Disorders

This refers to injuries or damage to joints or tissues in the back or limbs. Well-trained healthcare professionals know when to manually carry a patient and when it is best done with assistance. This is a common injury among nurses. This should also be a cause for concern for family members as well, because a poorly trained nurse may take it upon his or herself to carry a patient and not be able to do it properly resulting in injuries to the patient.

Unsafe Conditions

One of the benefits of bringing a health care expert into your home is the professional approach that will be established toward care and comfort for the patient. A well-trained nurse will be able to pinpoint and address unsafe or unsanitary conditions and assist in remedying the problem.

Driving-Related Injuries

This refers to patients who are mobile, whether able to drive a vehicle, uses a wheelchair or those who have to travel to see their doctor. Professional health workers can be available to prevent these types of injuries by:

• Conducting a safety check a day prior to a trip out
• Inspecting the access in and out of the house
• Educating family members on the proper handling of patients in transit

Needle-sticks and Injuries from Sharp Objects

This is a commonplace injury in the medical care industry and is quite simple to address: prevention through training and orientation.

• Needle-stick hazards should be pinpointed and addressed
• Correct needle types should be used always
• All family members should be informed about the used needle disposal
• Anyone who is trained to handle needles should get the proper vaccination like hepatitis B

Those most at risk for needle-stick injuries are nurses, emergency care family members, and those in charge of household maintenance.

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Seniors become vulnerable as they age and are no longer able to perform many of the daily activities that they are used to doing. It is a big change for them to have caregivers come  into their homes and do the things that they are used to doing themselves. It will take time for them to adjust to this new way of living, especially since they believe they are losing their independence. Fragile bones, poor eyesight and other health issues can make it difficult for them to move around their home. Their health can affect their self-esteem. There are several ways that family and caregivers can help the senior build their self-esteem.

• Instead of the caregiver or family member making decisions for the senior, ask them their opinion. Involve them in the type of assistance they need.
• Give your senior small tasks that they can complete by themselves. The tasks should not be too complicated or time consuming. For example, you can have them help you fold laundry while they are sitting at the table.
• Ask them why types of hobbies they enjoy. Then schedule their day around these hobbies.
• Ask the senior about their past. Look through photo albums with them and let them talk about the history behind the photos.

The Nurses Guild Home Health Agency has a staff that is able to assist the family and their loved ones when it comes to home care. They are trained to care for the senior in many aspects and offer support to family as well. When working with the agency, anytime there is a concern or question about the well-being of the loved one, the family should not hesitate to ask the staff that is caring for the loved one for help. That is what they are there for, to support the senior and make sure that they are living life to the fullest.

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#1 Talk to your doctor

To start making a fall-prevention plan, speak with your doctor. You will need to take a list of all the prescription medications and over-the-counter medication that you are currently taking. The doctor will review your medication to make sure none of them interact with each other or have side effects that can make a risk of falling greater. Also, make sure to document any falls that have occurred, where the fall happened, and how you fell. Make sure to also include any times that you may have been caught by someone or have grabbed onto an object to keep you from falling. There are certain ear and eye disorders that can also increase your risk of falling.

#2 Keep moving

As long as it is okay with your doctor, activities such as walking, tai chi and workouts that involve slow and graceful movements are best. These activities will help improve flexibility, strength, coordination and balance. A physical therapist can create a customized exercise program for you if you are afraid to try the exercises on your own. The Nurses Guild Home Health Agency will be able to come out to your home and offer services to you, including Home Health Aides and Physical Therapy.

#3 Wear the right kind of shoes

Socks, floppy slippers, high heels or shoes with slippery soles can make you slip on certain surfaces increasing your risk of stumbling and falling. You should consider wearing shoes that properly fit and have nonskid soles. These types of shoes may also help in reducing joint pain.

#4 Remove hazards from your home

Remove electrical cords, phone cords, boxes and magazine or newspapers from walkways. Things like plant stands, magazine racks and coffee tables should not be in places where you will be walking a lot. Any loose floorboards or carpeting needs to be repaired. Things should be stored so that you can easily reach them. Place nonslip mats in the shower or bathtub. A bath seat can also be used so that you can sit while you take a shower.

#5 Lighting

Keep night lights in the hallway, bathrooms and bedroom. You should have a lamp within reach of your bed so that you can turn it on should you need to move from the bed after it is dark. Traditional lighting switches can be replaced with switches that illuminate or glow-in-the-dark. Flashlights should be stored in easy-to-find areas in case of a power outage.

#6 Assistive devices

Your doctor or physical therapist may recommend that you use a walker or a cane to keep you steady. Other things that can be done in the home are:

• Hand rails on both sides of the stairs
• Nonslip pads on bare steps
• Toilet seats with armrest or that are raised
• Grab bars in the tub or shower

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Families and doctors may miss the signs of depression because as a person gets older they are expected to slow down. There are signs that one can watch for. They are:

• Extreme feelings of sadness, unhappiness or despair
• Unexplained pains and aches
• Loss of interest in hobbies or socializing
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Feeling of hopelessness
• Feelings of helplessness
• Lack of motivation
• Lack of energy
• Sleep disturbances
• Loss of self-worth
• Slowed movement
• Slowed speech
• Increase use of alcohol
• Increase use of drugs
• Fixation on death
• Thoughts of suicide
• Memory problems
• Slowed movement
• Neglecting personal care

There are treatments available for older adults who are suffering from depression. They include medication, psychotherapy, or counseling,  and sometimes treatment consists of a combination of any of these therapies. If the older adult lives alone and does not have anyone that can check on them during the day or on a regular basis. The doctor may suggest that they have an agency, such as The Nurses Guild Home Health Agency, send someone out to the home to make sure that they are getting along fine and their necessary daily needs are being met. This can help the older person feel more secure just knowing someone is going to come see them.

There are also medical problems that can cause depression in older adults. Any chronic medical condition, especially if it causes pain, can make depression symptoms worse. These include:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Stroke
• Thyroid disorders
• Heart disease
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Cancer
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Diabetes
• Dementia
• Alzheimer’s disease

Symptoms of depression can also occur with some prescribed drugs. The person is more at risk if they are taking multiple medications. Older adults are more sensitive to the mood-related side effects of a prescription medication than younger adults. Medications that can cause or worsen depression are:

• Blood pressure medication
• Ulcer medication
• Beta-blockers
• Steroids
• Sleeping pills
• Heart medication that contains reserpine
• Tranquilizers
• High-cholesterol drugs
• Calcium-channel blockers
• Pain killers
• Arthritis drugs
• Medication for Parkinson’s disease
• Estrogen

If a person is feeling depressed after starting a new medication, they need to talk to their doctor as soon as possible. He or she may want to reduce the dose of the medication or even change them to another medication to help with depression symptoms.

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