AMA Guide to Home Caregiving American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving

At some time, most families will need to provide home care for an aging family member who is ill or disabled. While home caregiving provides many benefits, it takes careful planning, support, and patience. The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving provides the information you need to take the best possible care of an elderly, ill, or disabled person in a home setting. Written by experts from the American Medical Association, the book explains such essentials as how to: * Plan and arrange a room to adapt to a loved one's needs * Give medications, maintain hygiene, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom * Choose a home healthcare provider * Pay for home healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid, and long-term care insurance * Care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness * Choose between alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes * Take care of yourself, the caregiver With advice that touches both the physical and the emotional aspects of caregiving, this supportive, practical handbook will help make the experience as successful and rewarding as possible for you and your loved one. For more than 150 years, the American Medical Association has been the leading group of medical experts in the nation and one of the most respected health-related organizations in the world. The AMA continues to work to advance the art and science of medicine and to be an advocate for patients and the voice of physicians in the United States. Guide to Home Caregiving......Page 2 Foreword......Page 6 Contents......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 1 Preparing for Home Care......Page 16 Setting Priorities and Goals......Page 17 Planning and Arranging the Room......Page 20 Giving Medications......Page 22 Providing a Healthy Diet......Page 25 Hygiene......Page 29 Toilet Needs......Page 33 Symptoms to Monitor......Page 35 Bed Making......Page 38 Relieving Boredom......Page 41 Wound Care......Page 42 Incontinence......Page 47 Managing Intravenous Medications......Page 54 Risks of Immobility......Page 57 Dealing with Specific Illnesses......Page 59 4 Choosing a Home Healthcare Provider......Page 73 Visiting Nurse Associations......Page 77 Social Service Agencies......Page 81 Community and Volunteer Organizations......Page 82 Friends and Relatives......Page 85 Hospice......Page 86 5 Paying for Home Healthcare......Page 88 Medicare......Page 89 Medicaid......Page 90 Long-term Care Insurance......Page 91 CHAMPUS......Page 92 Community and Volunteer Organizations......Page 93 6 Rehabilitation Services......Page 94 Physical Therapy......Page 96 Speech Therapy......Page 97 Respiratory Therapy......Page 98 Modifying the Home Environment......Page 99 Preventing Falls......Page 100 Personal Emergency Response Systems......Page 104 Providing a Healthy Diet......Page 105 Medications and Older People......Page 108 Hygiene......Page 110 Home Temperature......Page 111 Depression......Page 114 8 Caring for an Older Person Who Needs Limited Assistance......Page 115 Geriatric Care Managers......Page 116 Keeping Legal and Financial Affairs in Order......Page 117 Adult Day Care Centers......Page 118 Continuing Care Retirement Communities......Page 119 Assisted Living Facilities......Page 120 Area Agencies on Aging......Page 121 9 Providing Long- term Care......Page 122 Preventing Pressure Sores......Page 123 Preventing the Arms and Legs from Stiffening......Page 126 Moving an Immobile Person in Bed......Page 128 Positioning an Immobile Person in Bed......Page 130 Transferring an Immobile Person......Page 131 Dealing with Memory Problems......Page 134 10 Nursing Homes......Page 136 Deciding What Is Best for Your Loved One and You......Page 137 Monitoring Your Loved One's Care......Page 142 Paying for Care in a Nursing Home......Page 144 11 Caring for a Person Who Has Alzheimer's Disease......Page 146 Learning about the Disease......Page 147 Safety......Page 150 Finding a Loved One Who Wanders Off......Page 153 Recreational Activities......Page 154 Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease......Page 155 Middle-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease......Page 159 Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease......Page 164 Support Groups for the Caregiver......Page 168 Advance Directives......Page 169 Hospice......Page 173 Relief of Symptoms......Page 175 Pain Control......Page 178 Dying and Death......Page 184 13 Care for the Caregiver......Page 187 Taking Care of Yourself......Page 188 Asking for and Accepting Help from Others......Page 191 Protecting Your Back......Page 194 Stress Relief for Caregivers......Page 195 What You Can Do to Help a Caregiver......Page 199 Resources......Page 200 Index......Page 244 0471414093 Guide to Home Caregiving 2 Foreword 6 Contents 10 Introduction 14 1 Preparing for Home Care 16 Setting Priorities and Goals 17 Planning and Arranging the Room 20 2 Basic Caregiving Skills 22 Giving Medications 22 Providing a Healthy Diet 25 Pressure Sores 29 Hygiene 29 Toilet Needs 33 Symptoms to Monitor 35 Bed Making 38 Relieving Boredom 41 3 Specialized Caregiving Skills 42 Wound Care 42 Incontinence 47 Managing Intravenous Medications 54 Risks of Immobility 57 Dealing with Specific Illnesses 59 4 Choosing a Home Healthcare Provider 73 Visiting Nurse Associations 77 Social Service Agencies 81 Medication and Infusion Therapy Services 82 Community and Volunteer Organizations 82 Friends and Relatives 85 Drugstores and Medical Supply Companies 86 Hospice 86 5 Paying for Home Healthcare 88 Medicare 89 Medicaid 90 Department of Veterans Affairs 91 Long-term Care Insurance 91 Workers' Compensation 92 CHAMPUS 92 Community and Volunteer Organizations 93 6 Rehabilitation Services 94 Physical Therapy 96 Occupational Therapy 97 Vocational Therapy 97 Speech Therapy 97 Respiratory Therapy 98 7 Caring for an Older Person Who Lives Alone 99 Modifying the Home Environment 99 Preventing Falls 100 Personal Emergency Response Systems 104 Providing a Healthy Diet 105 Medications and Older People 108 Dealing with Constipation 110 Hygiene 110 Home Temperature 111 Depression 114 8 Caring for an Older Person Who Needs Limited Assistance 115 Geriatric Care Managers 116 Keeping Legal and Financial Affairs in Order 117 Senior Centers 118 Adult Day Care Centers 118 Continuing Care Retirement Communities 119 Assisted Living Facilities 120 Telephone Check- in and Reassurance 121 Area Agencies on Aging 121 9 Providing Long- term Care 122 Getting Out of Bed 123 Preventing Pressure Sores 123 Preventing the Arms and Legs from Stiffening 126 Moving an Immobile Person in Bed 128 Positioning an Immobile Person in Bed 130 Transferring an Immobile Person 131 Dealing with Memory Problems 134 10 Nursing Homes 136 Deciding What Is Best for Your Loved One and You 137 Monitoring Your Loved One's Care 142 Paying for Care in a Nursing Home 144 11 Caring for a Person Who Has Alzheimer's Disease 146 Learning about the Disease 147 Safety 150 Finding a Loved One Who Wanders Off 153 Recreational Activities 154 Early-Stage Alzheimer's Disease 155 Middle-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease 159 Late-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease 164 Support Groups for the Caregiver 168 12 Caring for a Person Who Is Terminally Ill 169 Advance Directives 169 Hospice 173 Relief of Symptoms 175 Pain Control 178 Anxiety and Agitation 184 Dying and Death 184 13 Care for the Caregiver 187 Taking Care of Yourself 188 Asking for and Accepting Help from Others 191 Protecting Your Back 194 Stress Relief for Caregivers 195 What You Can Do to Help a Caregiver 199 Resources 200 Index 244

at Some Time, Most Families Will Need To Provide Home Care For An Aging Family Member Who Is Ill Or Disabled. While Home Caregiving Provides Many Benefits, It Takes Careful Planning, Support, And Patience.

the American Medical Association Guide To Home Caregiving Provides The Information You Need To Take The Best Possible Care Of An Elderly, Ill, Or Disabled Person In A Home Setting. Written By Experts From The American Medical Association, The Book Explains Such Essentials As How To:

• plan And Arrange A Room To Adapt To A Loved One’s Needs
• give Medications, Maintain Hygiene, Monitor Symptoms, Deal With Incontinence, Provide Emotional Support, And Relieve Boredom
• choose A Home Healthcare Provider
• pay For Home Healthcare, Including Medicare And Medicaid, And Long-term Care Insurance
• care For A Person With Alzheimer’s Disease Or A Terminal Illness
• choose Between Alternative Living Arrangements Such As Assisted Living Facilities Or Nursing Homes
• take Care Of Yourself, The Caregiver

with Advice That Touches Both The Physical And The Emotional Aspects Of Caregiving, This Supportive, Practical Handbook Will Help Make The Experience As Successful And Rewarding As Possible For You And Your Loved One.

for More Than 150 Years, The American Medical Association Has Been The Leading Group Of Medical Experts In The Nation And One Of The Most Respected Health-related Organizations In The World. The Ama Continues To Work To Advance The Art And Science Of Medicine And To Be An Advocate For Patients And The Voice Of Physicians In The United States.

publishers Weekly

many Families Have To Care For An Aging Or Ill Relative At Home, An Undertaking That Requires Planning And Support. In The American Medical Association Guide To Home Caregiving, Angela Perry, M.d., And The Ama Draw Upon The Experience And Advice Of Experts To Address The Emotional And Practical Aspects Faced In Home Care. They Cover Home Preparation, Basic And Special Caregiving Skills, Choosing And Paying A Provider, Long-term Care, Nursing Home Care, Care For The Caregiver And Caring For Someone Who Lives Alone, Someone With Alzheimer's Disease And The Terminally Ill. Especially Useful Is A Section On Organizations And Resources. This Guide Offers Manageable Alternatives To Residential Treatment. (oct.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

At some time, most families will need to provide home care for an aging family member who is ill or disabled. While home caregiving provides many benefits, it takes careful planning, support, and patience. The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving provides the information you need to take the best possible care of an elderly, ill, or disabled person in a home setting. Written by experts from the American Medical Association, the book explains such essentials as how to: Plan and arrange a room to adapt to a loved one's needs Give medications, maintain hygiene, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom Choose a home healthcare provider Pay for home healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid, and long-term care insurance Care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness Choose between alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes Take care of yourself, the caregiver With advice that touches both the physical and the emotional aspects of caregiving, this supportive, practical handbook will help make the experience as successful and rewarding as possible for you and your loved one. For more than 150 years, the American Medical Association has been the leading group of medical experts in the nation and one of the most respected health-related organizations in the world. The AMA continues to work to advance the art and science of medicine and to be an advocate for patients and the voice of physicians in the United States. Continuing Wiley's American Medical Association health guides series, this sensitive, reliable resource provides step-by-step instructions and much-needed guidance and encouragement to anyone who is caring for a loved one at home. Fully illustrated throughout, the American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving discusses the general aspects of caregiving as well as the specific tasks required for caring for a person with a particular illness such as Alzheimer's disease Before you begin caring for a loved one at home, it's a good idea to consult with the other members of the caregiving team-such as doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers, and family members-to identify and develop an effective strategy.