I Am Caring For Someone Else
Caring for someone with healthcare problems requires empathy, patience, and dedication. It involves understanding their medical needs, providing physical and emotional support, and ensuring they receive appropriate medical attention. Effective care giving also includes managing medications, coordinating with healthcare providers, and creating a safe and comfortable environment. Balancing these responsibilities while maintaining one’s own well-being is crucial for both the caregiver and the person receiving care. Recording important medical visits can be a beneficial practice for several reasons, provided it is done in front of the healthcare provider, it is kept secure and only accessed by those you feel should have access.
Topics Covered:
- Considerations for the Caregiver
- How to Assess a Caregiver’s Suitability to Provide Assistance
- How to Assess an Elderly Senior’s Decision Making Capacity
- How to Assess Advanced Directives
- Immediate and Short Term Care for Someone Else
- Long Term Care for Someone Else
- Communicating with Healthcare Practitioners
Considerations for the Caregiver:
There are several considerations for caregivers whom are assisting an individual. Most of the considerations involve the level of administrative control or representation that the caregiver can provide for the elderly senior. Receiving prior authorization from the individual and their family may be required.
Shared History and Understanding:
Direct family members will have a deeper understanding of the elderly person’s preferences, habits, and medical history and may be better suited to advocate on their behalf. If you are not a direct family member, your ability to legally represent the elderly individual is a gray area which will require you to seek professional guidance. Begin by speaking with existing family members and secondly, with a family approved attorney and primary care physician to discuss options.
Legal Authority:
If a family caregiver is identified in a healthcare power of attorney (HCPOA) advanced directive as an official representative for the individual, they will be empowered to make decisions on their behalf, when managing their affairs with banks, insurance companies, attorneys, or government agencies.
Confidentiality and Privacy:
Respect for the person’s confidentiality and privacy rights while providing care and managing their affairs such as access to financial information, investments, passwords and other sensitive information. Make sure to acquire prior authorization before accessing this information.
How to Assess a Caregiver’s Suitability to Provide Assistance:
This assessment evaluates the qualifications of the caregiver related to their level of responsibility and reliability to the senior elder. A caregivers lack of suitability may indicate that attempts to provide help, however compassionate, may introduce more problems than solutions or even harm to the senior.
| Assessment Type | Description |
| Trust and Relationship | Evaluate the trustworthiness of the caregiver and the strength of their relationship with the elderly senior to ensure that their best interests will be prioritized in decision-making. Even If they are trustworthy, are they functionally capable and willing to help with the care demands requested of them? |
| Conflict of Interest | Consider any potential conflicts of interest that may arise if the caregiver has personal or financial interests that could influence their decisions regarding the elderly person’s care and affairs. Identify and discuss them with extended family, an attorney or physician. |
How to Assess an Elderly Senior’s Decision Making Capacity:
This assessment evaluates the capacity for the elderly senior to manage and navigate their own activities of daily living and the level of assistance they may require in fulfilling tasks. Lack of capacity may indicate the need for advanced care and guardianship assistance in consultation with professionals.
| Assessment Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Capacity Assessment | Assess the elderly senior’s capacity to make decisions on their own regarding their own healthcare and legal affairs. Are they capable but simply lack knowledge and willpower? or are they fully incapable due to health issues and a lack of ability to care for themselves? If they lack capacity, explore legal avenues for appointing a representative in consultation with an attorney, their primary care physician and family members. |
| Regular Monitoring and Reviews | Implement mechanisms for regular monitoring and reviews of the family member’s care giving and decision-making ability to ensure that the elderly person’s needs and wishes are being properly addressed in addition to their confidentiality and privacy rights to their personal accounts, belongings, passwords and information. This may involve establishing additional frequent check-ins with their doctor and opening channels of communication with existing family members to discuss options for care. |
How to Assess Advanced Directives:
This assessment evaluates what legal advanced directives are commonly available for seniors whom may be incapacitated or approaching end-of-life.
| Consideration | Description |
|---|---|
| Legal Representation | Determine if the elderly person has identified a family member in any existing legal documents, such as a durable power of attorney or guardianship, to make decisions on their behalf. |
| Advance Directives | Review any existing advance directives, such as healthcare proxies or living wills to understand the elderly person’s preferences for medical treatment, end-of-life care and legal representation should they become incapacitated. |
| Physicians Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST Form) | A Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) form is a medical document that outlines specific medical interventions and preferences for treatment in accordance with an individuals current health condition and wishes. If the senior has not planned for such end of life considerations, speak with their primary care physician to discuss options. |
| Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) | A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) form is a legal document that instructs healthcare providers not to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if the individual’s heart stops beating or they stop breathing. The benefit of a DNR form is that it allows individuals to make their end-of-life preferences clear and maintaining dignity in their final moments. If the senior has not planned for such end of life considerations, speak with their primary care physician to discuss options. |
| Guardianship Proceedings | If the elderly person lacks capacity to make decisions or care for themselves and does not have existing legal representation, consider initiating guardianship proceedings to appoint a guardian to make decisions on their behalf. In South Carolina, the process typically begins by filing a petition for guardianship in the probate court of the county where the individual resides or is located. The petitioner, often a family member, must provide evidence of the individual’s incapacity and their own qualifications to serve as guardian. |
| Vial of Life | For a senior individual whom may become incapacitated, or is living alone, having visually accessible folder of medical information about them can be crucial. This will enable healthcare providers or emergency responders quick access to essential details such as medical conditions, allergies, medications, and contacts in an emergency situation. The visibility and accessibility of such information ensures that appropriate and timely medical interventions can be administered, potentially improving outcomes and reducing communication barriers that may arise during a crisis. |
| Communication with Authorities and Healthcare Providers | Establish clear communication channels with relevant authorities, healthcare providers, and legal professionals to ensure that the caregiver’s authority and role in providing care and decision making are recognized and respected. This may involve the caregiver petitioning to become an authorized user or representative on the elderly senior’s personal accounts and mailing proof of their legal authorization to do so, whenever required. |
By addressing these considerations, you can help ensure that the elderly person receives appropriate care and support from their family member or trusted friend while also safeguarding their legal rights and best interests.
Immediate and Short Term Care for Someone Else
In the short term, the senior has a reduced capacity for self-help but is still functional in many areas of life. In this stage, the scope of caring for someone else may be defined as helping them to connect with family members, open discussions about end-of-life planning, and organizing existing medical health care information so that any existing barriers to communicating frequently and rapidly with medical professionals are removed.
Connect the Senior with Extended Family Members and Friends:
Caregivers play a crucial role in connecting seniors with health issues to their extended family and friends for support during their journey through elderly life. By facilitating regular communication and updates about the senior’s health status and needs, caregivers can keep family members and friends informed and engaged. They can organize regular visits, phone calls, or video chats to maintain connections and provide opportunities for emotional support and companionship.
Establish a Routine for Providing Assistance:
Establishing a routine for providing assistance to an elderly senior involves several best practices to ensure their well-being and comfort. Firstly, it’s essential to prioritize consistency in daily activities such as meal times, medication schedules, and personal care routines. Clear communication with the senior about their preferences and needs helps tailor the routine to their individual requirements. Flexibility is also key, as the senior’s needs may change over time, requiring adjustments to the routine. Regularly reviewing and updating the routine based on feedback and observations ensures it remains effective and supportive. Finally, incorporating meaningful activities and opportunities for social interaction within the routine helps promote mental stimulation and emotional well-being, fostering a sense of purpose and fulfillment in their daily life.
Note Household Items or Behaviors that Could Introduce Harm:
It’s crucial to identify household items or behaviors that could potentially harm a senior citizen with a debilitating condition. This includes ensuring clear pathways free from clutter to prevent falls, securing rugs and furniture to minimize tripping hazards, and adjusting home temperatures to prevent overheating or chilling. Additionally, noting potential risks such as sharp objects, slippery surfaces, or inaccessible items can help create a safer environment. Regular assessments and modifications to the home layout and daily routines are essential to mitigate risks and ensure the senior’s safety and well-being.
Verify The Senior’s Health Care Coverage:
Verifying the senior’s health care coverage is important to make sure they have the correct level of coverage which suits their needs. Too much insurance can be wasteful for their savings, and being under-insured can limit their ability to receive proper care. Choosing the best health insurer is a challenging task but consider getting multiple quotes if necessary and review their current policy with their doctor when possible.
Verify Proof of Insurance:
- Call their health insurance provider and request a printed copy of their policy and insurance card
- Take a photo of their insurance card with the senior’s phone and keep it on their phone. Print an extra copy and keep it in their car.
- Add the main insurance contact # and their policy # to their phone’s contacts.
By anticipating these challenges and preparing accordingly, you can aid the senior in maintaining a higher quality of life and better manage their illness should they need to quickly contact their medical insurance provider.
Verify the Senior Can Communicate with their Doctor:
The purpose of knowing when your next checkup is to establish a clear, ongoing relationship with your doctor or PCP and get regularly tested so that small health issues dont evolve into emergencies in later life.
- Know whom their doctor is, where they are located and how to get a hold of them.
- Keep track of when their next doctor’s visit is for their annual checkup.
- Make sure their doctor has both their phone, your phone and the correct email addresses for sending both of you a reminder notification.
- Ask their doctor what the procedure would be if they need to setup an urgent request outside of their planned annual checkup.
- Learn how to login and send messages to their doctor directly through their online web portal.
Managing Medications:
The purpose of managing medications is to clearly identify and communicate what medications the senior is taking so a doctor may assist them in the event they become incapacitated or need to correctly update your existing prescriptions.
- Identify Current Medications: Keep a list of current medications they are taking including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements on a printed piece of paper with the most recent date it was updated. Keep this list in their car and take a picture of it on their phone.
- Consider using a weekly pill dispenser with individual containers for each day of the week to help manage their correct dosage.
- Evaluate the senior’s existing process of having their medications refiled and delivered. Are they required to request refills by phone? on what schedule? are their medications delivered by mail? what is the procedure for requesting refills online? How are they organized into pill dispensers and their medication log updated or modified ? how could these processes be made simpler ?
Long Term Care for Someone Else
Once the senior has met with their doctor and family and there is consensus that defining a plan for long-term health care is important or to move them to an assisted living facility, below are helpful recommendations for developing a long-term care plan.
| Key Components of Long-Term Care | Description | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| Understand Long-Term Care Types | – In-Home Care: Assistance provided in the person’s home, ranging from personal care to skilled nursing. – Community Services: Adult day care, meal programs, and transportation services. – Residential Care: Options like assisted living and nursing homes. | – Evaluate caregiver options and consider respite care to prevent burnout. – Visit facilities and speak with staff to assess quality of care and environment. |
| Perform a Care Needs Assessment | – Conduct thorough assessment to determine specific needs, evaluating physical, medical, emotional, and social aspects. – Involve healthcare professionals to create a personalized care plan. | – Keep detailed records of medical history, medications, and preferences. – Consider specialized assessments for cognitive or behavioral health needs. |
| Care Planning | – Develop comprehensive plan detailing daily routines, medical treatments, and long-term goals. – Regularly review and adjust based on evolving needs and feedback from healthcare team. | – Involve the senior in decision-making to maintain autonomy and dignity. – Establish emergency protocols and ensure all caregivers are trained on the care plan. |
| Funding and Insurance | – Understand financial aspects including costs and funding sources like long-term care insurance, Medicaid, and Medicare. – Explore veterans’ benefits to help cover expenses. | – Research eligibility criteria and application processes for different funding sources. – Consult with a financial planner to understand implications for retirement savings and estate planning. |
| Legal and Financial Planning | – Ensure legal documents such as powers of attorney and advance directives are in place. – Manage assets and understand financial planning options with potential advisor consultation. | – Review legal documents regularly to ensure they reflect current wishes and circumstances. – Discuss long-term care planning with family members to align expectations and responsibilities. |
These recommendations provide additional guidance for caregivers navigating the complexities of long-term care planning for seniors, ensuring comprehensive support and preparation for future needs.
Communicating with Healthcare Practitioners
Effective communication with healthcare professionals is crucial for ensuring optimal care and positive health outcomes. For you personally, establishing clear, respectful, and open lines of communication allows you to convey your symptoms, concerns, and preferences accurately, while healthcare providers can respond with informed guidance, diagnoses, and treatments that best suit you. Receiving the best care requires education, patience and being persistent. Understand that all areas of the current healthcare system have some level of dysfunctionality so whenever working with your doctor, be sure to identify your expectations for them, and what their expectations are for you.
Organize Your Health Information:
Before your visit, gather all relevant medical records, including past diagnoses, medications, and lab results. Assemble a list of current medications. Having this information on hand will help your doctor understand your medical history accurately. Bring a list of symptoms you’ve been experiencing, by filling out the pre appointment questionnaire.
Be Honest and Open:
During the visit, be honest about your lifestyle, habits, and any challenges you face in following medical advice.
- Be sure to discuss sensitive topics such as mental health, substance use, or difficulties adhering to prescribed treatments. Transparency helps your doctor provide the best care tailored to your needs. If you RECORD visit, all the follow up steps will be made easier.
- Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand something, and make sure you leave the appointment with a clear understanding of the next steps and any follow-up needed.
Engage Actively:
Active participation in your healthcare discussions is essential. Listen attentively to what your healthcare provider says, and don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if something is unclear.
- Bring someone to take notes during the conversation to help you, if you are unable to record, to document all important details.
- Before you leave the visit, make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment options, and any prescribed medications.
- Ask about potential side effects and what you should do if you experience them.
By engaging actively, you can make informed decisions about your health and ensure you are following the recommended care plan correctly.
Follow Up and Communicate Changes:
After your appointment, keep your healthcare provider informed about your progress.
- Report any changes in your symptoms on the doctor’s website portal, whether they improve or worsen.
- If you experience side effects from medications, inform your provider promptly.
- Regular follow-up appointments may be necessary to monitor your condition and adjust treatment as needed.
Consistent communication helps your healthcare provider manage your health effectively and make timely adjustments to your care plan, ensuring the best possible outcomes. Remember the mantra “ if not documented – not done”