Caregiver Blog, News Feeds, Video Feeds, Useful Links

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Video: Recognizing Signs of Dementia

HandiRecords - Home Medical Records - Featured in Caring Today

Keeping home medical records can save a life in an emergency. Caregiver Agencies require the in-home caregivers to write in a journal daily in order to provide updates on a person's health and symptoms. This is helpful later if a health problem is suspected.

Additionally, medication records help elderly people who live alone at home to avoid making medication errors, and they provide a handy place for emergency phone numbers of medical professionals and other contacts.

Some people create their own medical records notebook, but others buy one of the convenient premade home medical record systems. Below is information about HandiRecords, a system that has received many endorsements from respected organizations.

Clipped from HandiRecords:

HandiRecords - http://www.seniorsapprove.com/medical-records.html


"HandiRecords has been featured in the November/December 2007 issues of Caring Today, a magazine for caregivers and also Women's Enterprise USA.

HandiRecords is being recognized in the February 2008 issue of Caregiver's Home Companion Magazine.

HandiRecords is also featured as a caregiver's resource on the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago's Life Center web site.

Blanchard Enterprises is proud to be a Resource Partner of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America.

Video: Stanford University on Dementia

Video - Home Medical Alarms So Seniors Living Alone Can Get Help

Caregiver Tips - Video: The Vial of Life

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Video: Power of Attorney - Explanation, Healthcare Directive, Duties

Video: Univ. of Maryland Medical Center, Understanding Irregular Heartbeats, Tests, Pacemakers,

Video: Advance Healthcare Directives

To have your healthcare wishes followed you need to have an Advance Healthcare Directive. Some people want to have as much medical care as possible if they are near the end of life, and others wish to have as little as possible.


Video: Understanding Atrial Fibrillation, Irregular Heartbeats

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Video: Heart Failure, Pacemakers, and Follow-Up

This video explains that a pacemaker and defibrillator can be installed in a minimally invasive surgery for someone with heart failure.

This results in a reduction of symptoms. Only 2 weeks after receiving a pacemaker and defibrillator the patient in the video reported he was back to his usual activities without the shortness of breath.


Basics of Congestive Heart Failure for Caregivers

If you are a caregiver for someone who has congestive heart failure this video will help you understand the symtpoms and lifestyle changes that can help.


Saturday, November 1, 2008

Five Caregiving Steps For Home Safety

When an elder's health condition could need emergency care at home caregivers can take the following safety steps. (1) First, put a Vial of Life information form on the fridge door so paramedics can quickly get information about medicines, health conditions, doctors, emergency numbers and allergies.

(2) Next, create a caregiving notebook with dividers and information about the following. Put the notebook in the kitchen in a prominent place so paramedics can see it without searching.
A. health conditions, diagnoses, allergies, medical history
B. medicines, instructions and dosages
C. emergency phone numbers, doctors, health professionals, relatives, friends
D. info regarding power of attorney
E. healthcare directive and instructions
F. an ongoing journal to list important information, falls, illnesses, other events

(3) Put a large calendar on the wall or fridge and list doctor's appointments and tests, health related information, and events.

(4) Get a plastic pill packer with 7 days a week plus dividers for 4 times a day to separate the pills. This will ensure medicine times don't get confused or medicines don't get skipped.

(5) Get one of the medic alert home systems with an easy to press button worn around the neck or on the wrist so help can be summoned quickly, especially if someone lives alone.