If someone you love is living with chronic pain, they may end up needing help or care from others if the pain becomes too debilitating. While it may seem natural for you to step and offer to help, there are some things that you should take into consideration before committing yourself. This is important for both your sake and for the person you will be caring for.
The type of information that you need is practical, such as knowing the insurance policy, how to care for yourself, and the resources available to you.
The University of Maryland Medical System has put together …read more

In case you missed these posts or don’t know how to find them, here are three posts that list various places where a caregiver may get some much-needed help and/or support:

5 resources for caregivers
5 more resources for caregivers
And another 5 resources for caregivers

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Today, I’m revisiting the caregiver. Caregivers come in all forms from husbands and wives, to children, to friends, even to paid help. Here are the five most popular care giver posts on Help My Hurt:

Create a pill card to help remember
Hiring help for the helper
Tests can be painful – how to help someone who is going through them
Being there for someone in pain
When you’re caring for someone who has pain

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Do you have to remember to take several types of medications or are you responsible for helping someone take medications? It can be difficult remembering which pill is for what (pain pills, for example) what pill to take when and – often – how.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has put together a very informative guide on how to make up your own pill card.
Why make up a pill card? (to keep better track)
What you need
How to organize the card
Images and photos for shapes of pills, types of pills and time of day or night
How to fill in the …read more

 
There comes a time for many family caregivers that outside help is needed. If you are one of the millions of people who care for someone who has pain, either because he or she is dying or because of the nature of the illness, you don’t have an easy job. There are physical tasks that can be demanding and there’s the psychological and emotional aspect of care, as well.
If you don’t have other family members who can help pick up the load, you’ll have to bring in some outside help for your loved one’s sake – and for yours.

Decide …read more

The third of three posts (for now) on resources for caregivers, following up on Monday’s, 5 resources for caregivers, and Tuesday’s, 5 more resources for caregivers:

National Organization for Victim Assistance
1730 Park Road,NW
Washington,D.C. 20010
Phone: (800) TRY-NOVA or (202) 232-6682   Fax: (202) 462-2255
http://www.trynova.org
 
National Council on the Aging, Inc.
300 D Street,SW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 479-1200   Fax: (202) 479-0735
E-mail: info@ncoa.org   http://www.ncoa.org
 
National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship
1010 Wayne Avenue, Suite 770
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: (301) 650-9127   Fax: (301) 565-9670
E-mail: info@canceradvocacy.org   http://www.canceradvocacy.org
 
National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform
1424 16th Street, N.W., Suite 202
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 332-2276   Fax: (202) 332-2949
http://www.nccnhr.org
 
American Geriatrics Society (AGS)
The Empire State …read more

Continuing from yesterday’s post, 5 resources for caregivers, here are 5 more:
Pathways: Exercise Video for People with Limited Mobility
Mobility Limited
P.O. Box 838
Morro Bay, CA 93442
Phone: (800) 366-6038
E-mail: shsh@mobilityltd.com http://www.mobilityltd.com

National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization
1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 625
Alexandria,VA 22314
Phone: (800) 646-6460 Fax: (703) 837-1233
E-mail: nhpco_info@nhpco.org http://www.nhpco.org

National Family Caregivers Association
10400 Connecticut Avenue, Suite 500
Kensington, MD 20895-3944
Phone: (800) 896-3650 Fax: (301) 942-2302
E-mail: info@nfcacares.org http://www.nfcacares.org

National Institute on Adult Day Care
300 D Street,SW, Suite 801
Washington, DC 20024
Phone: (202) 479-1200 or (800) 424-9046 Fax: (202) 479-0735
http://www.ncoa.org

National Osteoporosis …read more

All too often, care for people with chronic pain falls on family members who may not feel equipped to provide good care or they may feel overwhelmed with some of the issues involved. Over the course of the next few days, I’ll list some international, national, and local organizations that may be able to help you. Some are for pain, while others are specific to certain illnesses or the elderly.
Arthritis Foundation National Office
1330 W. Peachtree Street,
Atlanta, GA 30309
Phone: (404) 872-7100 or (800) 283-7800
http://www.arthritis.org
 
Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc.
225 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1700, Chicago, IL 60601-7633
Phone: (800) 272-3900 …read more

 
Post 4 of my Valentine’s Day countdown.
When someone you love has a chronic illness or chronic pain, often they have to undergo medical tests that can be less than pleasant. While some people prefer to do these things on their own, many appreciate having someone around for support. And, the more knowledgeable you are, the more supportive you can be.
Much stress and anxiety is caused from not knowing what the test is and why it is being done. This is something the prescribing physician should explain, but if not, ask. Ask what exactly is done for the test and what …read more

 
Post three of my Valentine’s day countdown.
If you love someone with chronic pain, sometimes you may feel as if you don’t know what to do. Some people with pain want someone close by, others don’t want anyone anywhere near them. Some want to talk about the pain, others don’t. Some want to fight their pain, other don’t, and so on.
The problem with the above examples is that one person may experience all those feelings – and that would mix up a loved one something awful.
The best thing you can do is listen to the needs of the person in pain. …read more