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 this health calculator to help you understand where you may need some help: Caregivers Readiness Calculator.

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Tags: caregiver, chronic pain blog, pain blog, living with chronic pain, chronic pain

Post from: Blisstree

Are you ready to be a caregiver?

1. 5 resources for caregivers
2. 5 more resources for caregivers
3. And another 5 resources for caregivers

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Post from: Blisstree

Resources for caregivers – 3 posts revisited

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

Post from: Blisstree

5 posts to help the caregiver revisited

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 information

You can find all the information here: How to Create a Pill Card

Living with chronic pain is difficult enough without having to add the stress of remembering or wondering if you’ve taken your medication. I learned about this site in the yahoo group Chronic Pain Assistance and it’s definitely information worth passing on to anyone you know who may need it.

Image: iStock

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Post from: Blisstree

Create a pill card to help remember

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 what you need

Before searching for someone to help you, you need to decide what type of help you’re looking for. Are you looking someone who will:

- do household tasks, like housekeeping?

- do personal care for your loved one, such as bathing?

- act as a sitter to be present if you need to leave?

- provide nursing care or assistance?

Job description

Once you have decided what sort of help you’re looking for, you need a job description for your helper. In this job description, you need to be as specific as possible, detailing what it is is you want your helper to do

Finding someone

Often, people find in-home help through recommendations, either through friends, members of the palliative care team, or your doctor’s office staff, for example. Other places you can look for help are:

- home healthcare agencies

- want ads

- nursing schools

- Internet sites

Salary

You will have to calculate how much money you can pay your hired help. Of course, the more involved the work, the higher a salary they will require. You may qualify for funding from government agencies, so be sure to check this out.

Hiring

After you’ve begun your search, you have to interview the prospective helper. Some of the usual questions are:

- what type of training have you had?

- do you have any certificates?

- what type of experience do you have?

- can you provide references?

- have you ever worked with someone who is in chronic pain/is terminally ill?

- what were your responsibilities?

The work

When your helper is hired, you need to be perfectly clear about the expectations. It is best to put it in writing, in a contract that is read, understood, and signed by your helper. Some of the information in the contract* should include:

- hours of work expected

- how to handle unexpected overtime

- hours to begin and finish work

- tasks expected

- salary and benefits

- terms of termination should this become necessary

*Note: This is not a substitute for legal advice. For legal information on how to write a contract that is legal in your area, obtain legal advice from a lawyer.

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Technorati Tags: hiring help for the helper,nursing aide,nursing assistant

Post from: Blisstree

Hiring help for the helper

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 Building

350 Fifth Avenue, Suite 801

New York, NY 10118

Phone: (212) 308-1414   Fax: (212) 832-8646

E-mail: info@am.ger.org   http://www.americangeriatrics.org

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Post from: Blisstree

And another 5 resources for caregivers

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 Foundation
1232 22nd St.,NW

Washington, DC 20037

Phone: (202) 223-2226 Fax: (202) 223-2237

E-mail: communications@nof.org http://www.nof.org

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Post from: Blisstree

5 more resources for caregivers

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 or (312) 335-8700, Fax: (312) 335-1110

E-mail: info@alz.org   http://www.alz.org

American Association of Homes for the Aging
2519 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20008-1520

Phone: (202) 783-2242  Fax: (202) 783-2255

E-mail: info@aahsa.org   http://www.aahsa.org

Legal Services for the Elderly
130 West 42nd Street, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10013

Phone: (212) 286-1500  Fax: (212) 719-1937

http://www.lsny.org

National Institute of Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease Information Clearinghouse (NAMSIC)
1 AMS Circle

Bethesda, MD 20892-3675

Phone: (301) 495-4484 or (877) 22-NIAMS   Fax: (301) 718-6366

E-mail: niamsinfo@mail.nih.gov    http://www.niams.nih.gov

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Post from: Blisstree

5 resources for caregivers

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 they are looking for. Being prepared is half the battle of overcoming fear and anxiety.

Click here to read the rest of this post.

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Technorati Tags: chronic pain,tests,test results,anxiety,stress

Post from: Blisstree

Tests can be painful – how to help someone who is going through them

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. If you can’t figure out what they want, ask. Simply ask. You’re not a mind reader yet. Never assume anything. Just because she didn’t want to be touched before doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to now, for example.

If you make a mistake – don’t dwell on it. We all do that from time to time. Just know that you’re doing your best. Focus on that and on providing the help and support that you can give.

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Technorati Tags: valentine’s day,chronic pain

Post from: Blisstree

Being there for someone in pain