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Assessment Tools
It's impossible to make decisions about how to manage a situation if you don't have a clear understanding of just what is happening. A good assessment is the first thing you'll need before you can begin to plan for what comes next. In this section you'll find a selection of assessment tools that will help you zero in on what could be problem areas.
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Competence: Competency Testing
Something that many caregivers come up against when caring for an older person is the question of competence. Particularly in the "in-between" stage when we may see clear signs that the elder is not making wise or safe decisions, but doctors and other family members may not agree. How do you get an objective assessment of someone's competence? . . . keep reading
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Words Can Be a Dementia Warning
Contrary to what you may have heard, the first signs of early dementia may not be leaving the car keys in the refrigerator or getting lost on the way to the hairdresser. Some people show much more subtle early signs in their speech and language . . . keep reading
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Senior Home Safety Assessment
Home accidents are some of the most common reasons why seniors make trips to the hospital or need to move to an alternative living facility like assisted living or a nursing home. One of the first steps to good long-term eldercare planning is a thorough safety assessment of the older person's home. . . . keep reading
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Warning Signs - What to Look For
Because we love them, we don't want to embarrass our seniors or put them on the spot, yet we have real concerns about their safety and ability to cope. We're looking for clues to how things are going. Having a checklist of "What To Look For" gives us a tool to start with and helps us focus. . . . keep reading
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Your Senior's Net Worth
Unless your parent is single (or divorced or widowed) and has few or no assets, you will have to know his or her financial situation before you can make long term care plans. Except for those with very low income and almost no assets, in the United States long term care is primarily a private pay affair. How do you know what your parent can afford? You calculate their net worth, and look at where the money is. . . . keep reading
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Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs): First Alert For Senior Caregivers
Every adult who lives independently has several complex tasks to accomplish on a regular basis. The "experts" have chosen to call these activities "instrumental activities of daily living," or IADLs. A person who is having trouble managing one or more of their personal IADLs is signaling to you that all is not well. If you can begin the planning process at the point when IADLs begin to be a problem, you can probably avoid the need for a crash course in senior care planning during a crisis, when you and your senior will certainly have fewer options. . . . keep reading
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Assessing Pain in the Elderly
Older adults often develop several conditions that can cause chronic pain. While hip, knee and low back pain are most familiar, heart disease, chronic lung disease, as well as diabetes-related neuropathy, cancer and skin ulcers are also common causes of chronic pain. While it would appear obvious that a good assessment of someone's pain is important, how does a caregiver manage it when communication is impaired? . . . keep reading
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Oral History as Holiday Tension Diffuser and Senior Assessment Tool
When family members gather for a holiday celebration it's an ideal time to gather some of the more obscure and fascinating information about our elders that never appears on a family tree. Getting an oral history started is also a great way to cool down conversations that may be getting heated and to give a senior some positive attention that doesn't focus on health, disabilities and doctor visits. . . . keep reading
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Diagnosis & Prognosis:
Both prognosis and diagnosis are fancy ten-dollar words for things you really need to have explained in plain English. Prognosis is just as important as diagnosis, and the prognosis will not be the same for every person with the same diagnosis. . . . keep reading
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Geriatric Care Managers: What They Haven't Told You
Hiring a GCM for advice and help with senior care is often the best thing a caregiver can do for an aging relative. Knowing what to watch for and what to ask a prospective GCM will put you on the fast track to finding the right Geriatric Care Manager for your particular needs. . . . keep reading
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Seven Signs That Leaving An Elder Home Alone Might Not Be A Good Idea
Talk to professional caregivers and you'll often find they have strong kneejerk reactions against the idea of leaving anyone but a 100% functional person at home alone. They've been trained to think first of liability, and that transfers over when they give advice to caregivers. On the other hand, our care recipients will probably strongly disagree and argue that they are perfectly safe at home alone. So where's the line? . . . keep reading
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Alzheimers Disease
