Helpful Furniture

Sometimes the right furniture makes all the difference.     

Caregivers may have clients who gradually have come to need a hospital bed or lift chair.  However they might get some resistance to the idea, as people like their own familiar things.  Clients can also be understandably....

The Caregiver's Notebook

Imagine this.  A well credentialed caregiver shows up at a new client and is briefed at length by the previous caregiver, who is leaving. This new caregiver listens to everything without making any notes at all on this complex case. She is there, her first day, without the thought of keeping a notebook!   I actually recommend....

CNA Continuing Education

As we know, CNA's have continuing education (CE) requirements similar to those of other licensed professionals.

Self-employed CNA's sometimes have challenges in meeting this requirement, but they also have some interesting opportunities. There is no....

CNA Report Card

So often, impressions of caregiver performance are subjective. As with any medical provider, a home caregiver's bedside manner is important. Just as with others providing treatment and care, however, we must not forget that actual, measured results do count.

As a caregiver, you should be aware of whether the client has improved or not under your care, even if the change has been gradual. This is not something you get from......

CNA? or HHA?

Certified Nursing Assistant or Home Health Aide? Which is more appropriate? It depends.

When I worked in home care in a different state, I was trained and certified as a Home Health Aide. Since I was not 'assisting nurses' but rather providing private care, a CNA designation seemed less relevant.

Florida, where I live, recognizes that there are HHA's in the workforce, but it does not test or license them. Florida only requires that some appropriate but unregulated training be given, by agencies themselves, for HHA's that they place.

CNA licensing, however, includes coursework and hands-on training that generally includes an internship in a nursing home, a law enforcement background check, and a state licensing exam....

Trust Your Nose

If it doesn't smell right, it probably isn't.

Facilities

When visiting care facilities, including acute care hospitals, nursing homes, rehab units and even assisted living homes, trust your sense of smell as you check out conditions. A sanitary place will smell sanitary. Odors won't be covered up with...

Roll pillows as foot bolsters

These pillows make good bolsters for the feet. Not under the ankle, but between the client's foot and the bed's footboard. The foot should be propped up to a normal position, at close to a right angle. Not straight out and unsupported for lengths of time.

You also need those pillows when using Craftmatic or hospital type beds, because the client may slide down when you don't realize it. You don't want their feet wedged against anything hard at the foot of the bed.

Disaster Preparedness for Diabetics

We don't want to wait until a natural disaster is at our doorstep to think about getting ourselves prepared. Here in Florida hurricanes are a worry, but almost every part of the country has its own natural disaster threats.

As caregivers we have special concerns and responsibilities, especially when we are caring for those with special needs. Diabetics are an example.

There are many articles and checklists available online these days. Here is a link to a helpful example of a checklist for diabetics. In Florida, aside from having a secure residence not vulnerable to flooding, we have to assume that we could be without power for a week or longer, and that we might not have access to medicine, food, or other supplies.

Air conditioning ducts

Air conditioning and heating ducts are easy to overlook.  When you are establishing a clean, safe environment for your clients, these should be professionally cleaned.

You might be surprised at the accumulation.

Safety Tip - EMS and Fire Department

If your client is confined to a wheel chair, or even just uses a walker, see your local Fire Department and EMS, and let them know. The emergency workers will appreciate it, and they may stop by and introduce themselves to your client.

This is especially important if your client lives in a condo or apartment. If there is a fire or other need to evacuate, they will know to check and will make a special effort to make sure your client is safe.

Air Ambulance

I have traveled twice on trips by air ambulance. One was a lengthy trip that required a short refueling stop along the way.

Small Lear jets were used, and along with the pilot and co-pilot there was an RN and a respiratory therapist. These very competent people were arranged by the air carrier as part of the flight.

The jets looked like private aircraft from the outside, but inside were...

Concierge Advocate Service

Here we are talking about the concierge medical service companies that have been featured in magazines and newspapers.

These are not the concierge physicians or practices. These are high-end service companies that provide advice and open doors for their clients, but do not provide actual medical care.

When you have a special need they will pull whatever strings.....

Range of Motion Exercise

Don't forget to ask the doctor or physical therapist for the "range of motion" exercises that they prescribe for your client. Take your client through the routines, and keep to the schedule that the professional recommends.

Some home health care agencies prohibit "massage therapy" by aides, as part of their general policy. While there are reasons for having that type of policy, you should not...

Foot massage?

When is the last time your client had a really good foot massage? They will appreciate regular massage.

I learned from the Art Riggs instructional DVD's, but there are also free foot massage instruction videos available online.

Foot Massage Techniques for the Elderly -- powered by ExpertVillage.com

Dress Code

If you are working for a hospital, the dress code is fairly simple. It's whatever you're told.

With private care, there is certainly more flexibility. Some agencies try to set some standards, but that doesn't necessarily work.

My private clients often don't want people to think that they need a caregiver, though, and definitely don't want to be seen in public with one....

First name basis?

A useful guideline for addressing elderly clients is to assume that:
1. they were professionals or business owners before retirement, and
2. you were working for them back then.

Besides, workplaces were more formal years ago, and your client may have been quite accustomed to "Mr." or "Mrs."

Some service providers say that they always ask in advance for permission to use first names. Clients will almost always say it's ok, of course, out of politeness. Better to wait until the client suggests it first, if he or she cares to.