Category: Caregiving Tips
Articles for caregivers of terminally ill patients including how to manage challenging situations.
Articles for caregivers of terminally ill patients including how to manage challenging situations.
Discover how to navigate the complex emotions of end-of-life care, particularly anger. This comprehensive guide offers caregivers practical strategies for understanding, managing, and coping with personality changes in terminally ill loved ones.
Learn about various financial assistance options available for terminally ill patients who need hospice or palliative care but lack Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance, or the means to self-pay.
Explore why side effects from medications can emerge after initial use and understand the critical need for vigilant monitoring and regular medication reconciliation to ensure patient safety and efficacy.
Learn about uncommon opioid side effects like myoclonus and hyperalgesia, and how they impact you and your family. This guide explains these conditions, offers tips for managing them, and highlights the role of hospice in providing comfort and support.
Understanding Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson's disease (PD) is crucial for providing the best care. This guide helps families know what to expect and how to support their loved ones through these challenging conditions.
Hospice nurses are crucial in comforting and supporting patients nearing death and their families. This article explores what to expect from hospice care, focusing on patient assessments, educational discussions, and addressing common family concerns.
RUSH Medical Center's Caring for Caregivers (C4C) program offers vital support to those caring for adults 60 and older at home. Learn about the program's comprehensive approach, including skill-building sessions, planning assistance, and care-team coordination. Discover how C4C makes a difference in caregivers' lives and improves patient outcomes.
Learn the difference between a terminal prognosis and a diagnosis, and get practical tips and resources to help you and your loved one navigate this challenging time.
Discover how "poop muffins" and "power pudding" can help maintain regular bowel movements. These fiber-rich recipes are especially beneficial for those experiencing constipation, including the elderly and individuals on certain medications. Learn how to make these tasty, digestive-friendly treats at home.
Understanding bowel movements in terminally ill patients is crucial for their comfort and dignity. This guide offers practical tips for caregivers and hospice nurses to manage constipation, diarrhea, and other bowel issues, ensuring patients' better quality of life.
Discover how to use the CUS tool and Caring Feedback Model to advocate for your loved one's health. This guide empowers caregivers to communicate effectively with healthcare providers, ensuring their concerns are heard and addressed.
Explore comprehensive approaches to managing hallucinations in loved ones with dementia. This article covers pharmacological methods, focusing on Seroquel and non-drug strategies such as Naomi Feil's validation therapy. Learn how to validate feelings, de-escalate fear, and improve the quality of life for those experiencing cognitive impairment.
Navigating interstate hospice transfers can be complex. This guide explores the process, challenges, and considerations for patients and families. Learn about Medicare regulations, coordination between hospice agencies, and how to ensure continuity of care when moving across state lines during end-of-life care.
Learn how to communicate effectively with healthcare professionals when caring for a loved one with a terminal illness. Improve communication, advocacy, and coping skills to ensure your loved one receives the best care possible.
Managing bowel problems in terminally ill patients is crucial for their comfort and dignity. This guide offers practical tips for caregivers and hospice nurses to address constipation, diarrhea, bowel obstruction, and ascites, ensuring patients' better quality of life.
Dementia is a complex condition affecting millions worldwide. Diagnosing dementia requires the expertise of medical professionals specializing in cognitive disorders. By guiding families and caregivers through the diagnostic process, you can empower them. In this article, we'll explore the steps to find the right specialist for a dementia diagnosis and how families can prepare for the crucial doctor visit.
Getting a formal diagnosis of dementia is essential for understanding the condition, accessing appropriate treatments and support services, and ensuring the best possible care. This comprehensive guide explores the importance of a specific diagnosis in predicting patient needs for comfort and quality of life, as different types of dementia require distinct care approaches. Avoid the risks of a generic diagnosis and empower yourself with knowledge.
Caregivers can find it challenging to ensure dementia patients wear their CPAPs overnight. This article offers practical tips and strategies to help caregivers ensure comfortable and uninterrupted CPAP use for their loved ones.
The journey towards the end of life can be a challenging and emotional time, both for the individual facing the end of their life and for their caregivers and family members. One aspect of this journey that may be unfamiliar to many is the presence of self-soothing sounds made by the patient during the transition and actively dying phase. These sounds can be puzzling and sometimes unsettling for caregivers and family members who have never witnessed them. This article will explore self-soothing sounds, why they occur, and how caregivers and family members can distinguish between self-soothing sounds and signs of discomfort.
This article delves into the intricate relationship between dementia and seizures, offering insights on identification, safety protocols, and advocacy for caregivers.
This comprehensive guide helps caregivers understand why urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent in dementia patients. It provides practical advice on prevention, early detection, and effective treatment strategies. Empower yourself with the knowledge to provide the best care for your loved ones.
This article is crafted with heartfelt understanding and care, recognizing the challenges you face as caregivers and family members of terminally ill loved ones. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and practical advice to manage the risk of aspiration pneumonia, a common yet often preventable complication in hospice care.
Deciding on a dementia care facility is crucial. This guide compares personal care homes, assisted living, memory care units, and nursing facilities, detailing Medicaid eligibility, pros and cons, and essential questions to ensure the best care for your family member.
Uncover the importance of regular care plan meetings at healthcare facilities. This guide details participants, goals, benefits, and risks of non-participation.