Caregiver

When it comes to infection control, caregivers and loved ones both can play an important role in stopping a serious illness from spreading. An elderly or immune-compromised person is typically more vulnerable to bacteria and viruses which potentially could develop into a critical, even fatal, condition. 

• before handling linens or meals;
• before and after eating, drinking or smoking;
• after using the bathroom;
• after coughing, sneezing or blowing your nose; and
• after touching anything that may be dirty. 

  

It’s pretty common knowledge that a person’s skin is their largest organ. As a person ages, specific factors affect the health of a loved one’s skin, and specific products are available to keep it as healthy as possible.

The main factors that affect a person’s skin condition over their lifetime include: diet, hydration, smoking, hereditary, lifestyle and more than the rest, sun exposure. When skin ages, a loss of fatty tissues between the skin and muscle occurs, and stress and gravity cause sagging. Skin also becomes rough and dry, and can look transparent or thin. It also bruises more easily and the elasticity decreases. Two main concerns for the elderly population are bed sores and age spots.

A caregiver is the front line for keeping a watchful eye on the condition of a loved one’s skin. They should report any visible changes to the person’s physician. Moles which have changed color, shape or size should be looked at, as should dry, itchy skin which isn’t relieved with moisturizers. New skin growths and recurring irritations are other issues to monitor.

An ounce of prevention

Once a person’s skin has reached the point of needing intervention, it can take time to reverse the damage. This is why the main line of defense for any caregiver is prevention.

Lips and skin should be moisturized regularly and protected from prolonged sun exposure. Encourage a loved one to wear hats and sunscreen, even long-sleeved clothing if possible. A lip balm with sunscreen will prevent drying and cracking.

It is common for physicians to ask their patients with high blood pressure to take readings at home. This type of monitoring for hypertension allows a loved one to be in a familiar setting and avoid unnecessary stress, yet ensure their medication is working as planned and be able to catch any issues before they escalate into a dangerous situation.

Blood pressure monitors are very accessible for public purchase, and without a prescription, so accessing one is easy for a caregiver. The tough part comes in ensuring a loved one is using it accurately, and finding a monitor they feel comfortable and competent handling independently.

Any monitor will have the same parts: an inflatable cuff or strap, a gauge for readings and sometimes a stethoscope.

The cuff is pretty self-explanatory, while the gauge can be either digital or aneroid. The modern digital ones provide a reading, while the older, and still commonly used, aneroid gauges have a dial that points to the blood pressure reading. A portion of blood pressure monitors on the market come with a stethoscope, which can be used to listen to the sounds blood makes as it flows through the artery. Generally, this will not be useful unless the caregiver and/or loved one is trained to decipher the additional information.

The Balancing Act, an inspiring morning show dedicate to women in America on Lifetime, featured Dr. Jon Segal, CEO of Discount Medical Supplies, as part of a four segment series dedicated to talk about the importance of caregivers.

In this fourth segment, he shares his thoughts and advices to all caregivers out there that feel they are struggling with their duty and need that boost of encouragement in this difficult mission.

Are you a caregiver caring for an aging parent, a relative, or maybe a loved one? If you are, you are certainly not alone.  In fact, four out of every ten adults care for parents or relatives seniors suffering from chronic illnesses including heart related diseases and the many issues of old age itself.

This interview took place in the second of a four part series on Caregiving in the tv show, The Balancing Act. Dr. Jon Segal answered important questions with valuable information targeted to help and support caregivers in such a difficult yet rewarding job.

Though released in 2007, Tamara Jenkins’ film The Savages was but recently watched on DVD by the author of these lines. Which doesn’t make much difference for the purpose of this article; since it’s not about giant robots, teenage wizards, sparkling vampires or shirtless werewolves, but was actually premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and won several independent filmmaking awards, chances are a good many people haven’t watched it either. And that is quite a shame, not only because it’s a great film in general, but also because it contains quite a few lessons on what is like to deal with an aging parent.

In a nutshell, the film is about siblings Jon (Philip Seymour Hoffman) and Wendy Savage (Laura Linney), who must come to terms with their estranged father Lenny’s (Philip Bosco)descent into dementia. Jon and Wendy are not the closest brother and sister tandem to begin with, and find it difficult to see eye to eye on many issues, especially on how their father should be cared for. Both are facing additional personal and/or professional crises, and though neither becomes the old man’s primary caregiver, that doesn’t take away from their efforts and sacrifice. If it did, it would be tantamount to saying that secondary caregivers aren’t as important, and we all know that all caregivers matter. Here are some of the things I learned by the time the end credits started to roll.