RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

Questions to Ask

Is the diet nutritionally balanced?
Does the diet provide a variety of foods, tastes, colours and textures?
Should the person be on a special diet for medical reasons (e.g., renal failure, etc.)?
Is mobility or accessibility a problem?
Is the person constipated?
Are there signs of dehydration? Read the rest of this entry »

Special Situations

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when a person is either not getting enough liquids (about six cups) daily or excreting too much urine. The body’s ability to detect thirst diminishes with age. Illness and medication can also cause dehydration. A dehydrated person may need help drinking from a cup or glass and have trouble swallowing liquids.
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Key Words
appetite, chewing, constipation, dehydration, diet, dysphasia, eating, liquid supplements, malnutrition, minced diet, nutrition, nutritional deficiency, nutritional supplementation, pureed diet, smell, special diets, swallowing, swallowing test, taste, thickeners, thirst, tube feeding
Glossary
Dysphagia: Difficulty in swallowing

Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study: A test to determine the degree of difficulty a person has with swallowing. Also called a swallowing test
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Questions to Ask

Is the care recipient receiving proper medical care?
If not, what can be done to improve medical care?
Can the care recipient
manage his/her/their own personal care?
handle house-keeping and home maintenance duties?
move freely and safely in and out of the house?
drive or have easy access to transportation? Read the rest of this entry »

Key Words
long-distance caregiving

Long-distance caregiving can be just as or even more stressful than being there. Long-distance caregivers may not be on site providing direct care, but they could be busy in their role as care managers — locating and coordinating services; negotiating with the care recipient, health professionals and family members; delegating tasks; monitoring the situation and making decisions.Telephone and travel may provide some relief but distance can heighten the caregiver’s feelings of anxiety and guilt. An extended period of long- Read the rest of this entry »

A Caregiver’s Perspective
By Karen Henderson

My father refused to allow me or anyone else to make any modifications in his home after my mother died. Shortly after he finally accepted a full-time housekeeper, he tripped on a loose area rug and broke his hip. This fall necessitated surgery; his first stroke occurred shortly thereafter. He was never the same again.
Read the rest of this entry »

Internet Resources

Ageless Design (US)This Web site contains handy information on Alzheimer-proofing the home.

Alzheimer Manitoba
Alzheimer Manitoba gives presentations on alternative housing, offers housing research consulting on a fee-for-service basis, and has published a how-to booklet on the construction of a special housing unit for people with dementia.

Read the rest of this entry »

Questions to Ask

What disabilities does the individual have?
Are the disabilities temporary, permanent, progressive?
Is the individual having difficulty in any of these areas:
getting in and out of the home?
using the stairs?
moving from one room to another?
Read the rest of this entry »

Special Situations

Home adaptations for people with dementia
Home modifications for people with dementia must to take into account the physical changes, cognitive deficits and behaviours associated with dementia — memory loss, wandering, pacing, stumbling, rummaging, incontinence, sleeplessness, disorientation, confusion, agitation, fear of shadows and reflections. Safety is of paramount importance and access usually has to be limited or controlled. The home modifications should provide a calm, safe and comfortable home environment where a person with dementia can perform the Read the rest of this entry »

Key Words
home adaptation, home modification, home safety

Glossary
Activities of daily living (ADLs): Skills that a person must be able to perform in order to live independently.

Instrumental Activities of Daily living (IADLs): Important but not essential skills for someone living independently since services such as home care can provide the required support.
Read the rest of this entry »

A Caregiver’s Perspective
By Karen Henderson
One thing that was constantly on my mind as a caregiver was the state of my father’s skin, particularly on his buttocks, as he sat in a wheelchair almost all day.

I learned to examine his skin closely at every opportunity; if I was not around for a few days I always asked the staff to let me know if they saw a problem. Since my father could not express pain or discomfort, if I saw any redness at all or the beginnings of a sore I looked for the cause immediately. He had a sore on his coccyx; the same day I bought a V cushion to help ease the pressure on his lower back. I tried several cushions over Read the rest of this entry »

Questions to Ask
What is causing the pressure sores to develop?
Is mobility a problem? Incontinence? Diet? Disease? Or medication?
What can be done to relieve the sources of pressure, friction or moisture?
What strategies and techniques can be used to prevent or lessen skin breakdown?
What professional and community services are available to assist with personal and nursing care?
Read the rest of this entry »

Keywords
bed sores, pressure sores, pressure ulcers, skin ulcers

Glossary
Pressure sore: A skin ulcer, also called a bed sore.
——————————————————————————–
Pressure sores or bed sores are painful skin ulcers that form when constant pressure on a part of the body shuts down the blood vessels feeding that area of skin. The resulting damage first appears on the skin surface as a red or dark patch. As the pressure sore progresses, the skin will break down to form blisters, dead skin, and ultimately infect underlying tissues, bones and joints. As little as two hours of sustained pressure will trigger skin damage. Skin damage can also be exacerbated by friction and moisture. The surface damage is just the tip of the iceberg; the real damage lies beneath the skin.
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A urinary catheter drains urine continuously from the bladder through a plastic tube and into a collection bag. This bag should be emptied as often as needed or at least every twelve hours. Leg bags should be emptied every 3 to 4 hours.

Gather supplies and put them in a clean space close to the patient. Before you empty the bag, you will need:
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Many people have questions and concerns about urinary catheters. Some of these concerns and what you can do are listed below.

Concern:

After catheter insertion, the patient feels mild burning or a need to urinate. This is a common feeling.
What you can do:

Try deep breathing, relaxation exercises, or diversion such as reading, watching TV, or visiting with family or friends. Read the rest of this entry »