Emergency Paperwork - Make packets to include essential info, such as:
- Elder's Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- List of Medications
- Copy of Insurance Cards
- Combined Health Instructions
- Power of Attorney*
- Your contact info - cell phone, etc.
*YOW - Some institutions are not accepting general Power of Attorney documents!
Read NYT article here: http://nyti.ms/1UEcN8Q
Just say "NO" to Feeding Tubes. Prevailing wisdom says they do little to improve, or prolong, lives of people with Dementia. Best to have a conversation ahead. I had experience with feeding tubes with my brother, who was total care for 13 years, and agree with the points in the article. I also stopped giving my Mom Ensure when she was home on hospice and in her final stages; I understand some clinicians consider such fluids as liquid feeding tubes. I realized I was prolonging her life without benefit. See the NYT article here: http://nyti.ms/2bwEotB
Another advanced directive issue for people with dementia involves being fed by hand, when they explicitly did not want feeding tubes. Here is a new term: VSED - Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking. Right-to-die groups in some progressive states are looking to develop special advanced directive forms to prohibit prolonging life through having nursing staffs offer food and drink - the theory is that the patient may participate due to life-long habits, vs. wishing to continue getting nourishment. One family lost a court case when they tried to get staff to discontinue hand feeding. Very difficult subject, but necessary to contemplate. There are examples of patients who choose VSED, as a way to end their life without a court battle. But that requires clear thinking, vs. dementia.
Read NYT article here: http://nyti.ms/1UEcN8Q
Just say "NO" to Feeding Tubes. Prevailing wisdom says they do little to improve, or prolong, lives of people with Dementia. Best to have a conversation ahead. I had experience with feeding tubes with my brother, who was total care for 13 years, and agree with the points in the article. I also stopped giving my Mom Ensure when she was home on hospice and in her final stages; I understand some clinicians consider such fluids as liquid feeding tubes. I realized I was prolonging her life without benefit. See the NYT article here: http://nyti.ms/2bwEotB
Another advanced directive issue for people with dementia involves being fed by hand, when they explicitly did not want feeding tubes. Here is a new term: VSED - Voluntarily Stopping Eating and Drinking. Right-to-die groups in some progressive states are looking to develop special advanced directive forms to prohibit prolonging life through having nursing staffs offer food and drink - the theory is that the patient may participate due to life-long habits, vs. wishing to continue getting nourishment. One family lost a court case when they tried to get staff to discontinue hand feeding. Very difficult subject, but necessary to contemplate. There are examples of patients who choose VSED, as a way to end their life without a court battle. But that requires clear thinking, vs. dementia.
http://nyti.ms/18Hg8hP -
Read this revealing NYT article about how often times putting final wishes in writing does not get to the right people, when needed most!
http://nyti.ms/1ep2e7g Read the full article by clicking on this link.
After caring for, and losing my parents, I am sensitive to how friends are patching together care for their elderly parents that still live at home. One 86-year old friend of my Mom's talked about driving her 90 year-old husband to a large healthcare facility that has poor parking and long hallways. Both of these fine people have trouble walking. Another woman in her '80s is scheduled for a procedure that will required at least 2 weeks recovery - her husband is failing and does not get out of bed some days. When asked who will help during the recovery period, a daughter said "oh, I think she will do fine." I think we "children" in our '60s, most of whom are still working, cannot confront the issues that elder parents face daily. And they, themselves, put up a brave front. Very difficult.
After caring for, and losing my parents, I am sensitive to how friends are patching together care for their elderly parents that still live at home. One 86-year old friend of my Mom's talked about driving her 90 year-old husband to a large healthcare facility that has poor parking and long hallways. Both of these fine people have trouble walking. Another woman in her '80s is scheduled for a procedure that will required at least 2 weeks recovery - her husband is failing and does not get out of bed some days. When asked who will help during the recovery period, a daughter said "oh, I think she will do fine." I think we "children" in our '60s, most of whom are still working, cannot confront the issues that elder parents face daily. And they, themselves, put up a brave front. Very difficult.
Falls are inevitable as we age, and often the elder lands in the hospital -- sometimes never to return home. If you are lucky enough to avoid spending many hours in the hallway of an ER, here are some caregiving lessons and ideas:
Things to have ahead of time:
Pain patches for bruises - they come in various sizes; some are icy-hot.
A commode to place near the bed to minimize night-time trips. There are colorful, stretchy, washable seat covers that help keep a room cozy looking. Use an odor-blocker, such as 'Fresh Drops'.
A wheelchair that can pass through the home's doorways - we use one that is portable and can be folded.
Flexible straws to help the elder take pills in bed. If your elder has swallowing issue, the straws may not be a good idea, as they can deliver the liquid too fast.
Extra hygiene products, including hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, odor-fighting plastic bags, etc. Visit the scary aisle at your pharmacy and toss in more than you think you need.
A couple of things I did after my Mom took a very bad fall:
Slept on her couch for 10 nights (I live right in front of her).
Put windchimes on her wheelchair so I could hear if she was up (hard-won lesson -- she fell, AGAIN, while I was 15 feet away, dead to the world).
Got more help in - established a "new normal" - even though she soon forgot she fell and wondered what all the fuss what about "I am not an invalid."
Watched a movie every night on her Comcast account - something for me!
Things to have ahead of time:
Pain patches for bruises - they come in various sizes; some are icy-hot.
A commode to place near the bed to minimize night-time trips. There are colorful, stretchy, washable seat covers that help keep a room cozy looking. Use an odor-blocker, such as 'Fresh Drops'.
A wheelchair that can pass through the home's doorways - we use one that is portable and can be folded.
Flexible straws to help the elder take pills in bed. If your elder has swallowing issue, the straws may not be a good idea, as they can deliver the liquid too fast.
Extra hygiene products, including hand sanitizer, Lysol wipes, odor-fighting plastic bags, etc. Visit the scary aisle at your pharmacy and toss in more than you think you need.
A couple of things I did after my Mom took a very bad fall:
Slept on her couch for 10 nights (I live right in front of her).
Put windchimes on her wheelchair so I could hear if she was up (hard-won lesson -- she fell, AGAIN, while I was 15 feet away, dead to the world).
Got more help in - established a "new normal" - even though she soon forgot she fell and wondered what all the fuss what about "I am not an invalid."
Watched a movie every night on her Comcast account - something for me!
