Caring for your loved one in your own home can be a healing comfort for them. It may be medical care for a short term, long term, or a life changing illness. When you bring somebody into your home to help you care for your loved one there are qualities to look for that will help bring about a positive healthy relationship. Depending on how much time they will be in the home will dictate how quickly the bond of honesty and trust will occur. As you begin to have help in the home building on these qualities will help to create a positive healthy environment for you, your loved one, and those on your care team.
Here are 4 important qualities:
Honesty - Honesty helps to build a strong foundation between the patient, caregiver and the care team.
Sometimes there are multiple levels of care for the patient in the home. The more care involved the more critical it is to establish a relationship of honesty. The role of honesty opens the door and paves the way for trust, respect, and communication to begin.
Trust - Being able to trust those who come into your home is critical. Your home environment is a sacred place, your sanctuary. This is where you nurture and grow love, morals, values, discipline, character, integrity, respect, beauty, and grace. This is where the well spring of your life ebbs and flows. It is important that you build trust with those who help you care for your loved one.
Respect - The next step is respect. You must be able to respect each other as a person, each other’s job experience, and the expertise that each of you brings to the table. The value of respect will naturally bring about a sense of dignity and compassion both for the patient, caregiver, and those whohelp.
Communication - Communication helps to develop the relationship between the patient, caregiver and the care team. You need to be able to effectively communicate with those in your home. This could be a parent, siblings, extended family, friends, or those in the medical field. Good communication will help keep the stress level down during the day to day operations of caring for your loved one.
As you work to establish these foundations they will spill over into other areas; your marriage, children, work, activities, and life in general. All of this will help you to better organize, plan, and manage while loving.
Penny Hanlon
www.cominghomeguide.com
Showing posts with label disability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label disability. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Steps to take to be the best advocate for your loved one
It can be frustrating when you communicate with the medical staff your concerns regarding your loved one and for whatever reason they do not take the necessary steps to help you find out what is going on. For example, your loved one is experiencing "unusual symptoms" and you are trying to find out what is the cause. It could be unexplained pain, muscle aches, extremely loose stools, or a myriad of other things. You talk with the specialist to find out what to do and they may listen but the issue is still not resolved. There is no plan of care in place and you are left feeling frustrated.
Here are some steps to take to help you get the answers you need -
Stay calm - It is hard to talk with someone who is visibly angry and upset. Typically, it is also difficult to make decisions in the best interest of your loved one when you are focused on the anger, anxiety, and frustrations of the moment. If you find yourself ready to explode take a moment to step back, take a deep breath, and gather your thoughts.
Keep a time line of what your concern is - When did the problem start, how long has it been going on, who you have talked with, and options that you have already tried. When you are talking with the doctor about these things give them the highlights of what has been going on since your last visit. Give them a copy of the time line that you have put together for them to put in their files. If possible try to keep this to one page.
Bring someone with you - It is always good to bring someone with you to your doctor's appointment who can help you advocate your concerns. You can bring a spouse, family relative, friend, or even the home health nurse with you who can share their perspective and concerns regarding the problems.
Talk with another doctor - If you are taking care of a loved one who has critical care needs, multiple doctors to follow, and/or you are an inpatient or outpatient regular at the hospital then talk with one of your doctors who you have a good relationship with. Ask them for advice, guidance, and direction on what you should do.
Hospital patient advocate - Sometimes the hospital will have a patient advocate on staff that you can turn to and talk with regarding your concerns. They can then step in and advocate on your behalf.
Do not be afraid to speak up if you have concerns. Things can be missed or overlooked by the doctor, nurses, or medical staff. If things remain unresolved then you have the right to find another doctor who will address your concerns and help you come up with a plan of care that is best for you and your loved one.
Penny Hanlon
http://www.cominghomeguide.com/
Here are some steps to take to help you get the answers you need -
Stay calm - It is hard to talk with someone who is visibly angry and upset. Typically, it is also difficult to make decisions in the best interest of your loved one when you are focused on the anger, anxiety, and frustrations of the moment. If you find yourself ready to explode take a moment to step back, take a deep breath, and gather your thoughts.
Keep a time line of what your concern is - When did the problem start, how long has it been going on, who you have talked with, and options that you have already tried. When you are talking with the doctor about these things give them the highlights of what has been going on since your last visit. Give them a copy of the time line that you have put together for them to put in their files. If possible try to keep this to one page.
Bring someone with you - It is always good to bring someone with you to your doctor's appointment who can help you advocate your concerns. You can bring a spouse, family relative, friend, or even the home health nurse with you who can share their perspective and concerns regarding the problems.
Talk with another doctor - If you are taking care of a loved one who has critical care needs, multiple doctors to follow, and/or you are an inpatient or outpatient regular at the hospital then talk with one of your doctors who you have a good relationship with. Ask them for advice, guidance, and direction on what you should do.
Hospital patient advocate - Sometimes the hospital will have a patient advocate on staff that you can turn to and talk with regarding your concerns. They can then step in and advocate on your behalf.
Do not be afraid to speak up if you have concerns. Things can be missed or overlooked by the doctor, nurses, or medical staff. If things remain unresolved then you have the right to find another doctor who will address your concerns and help you come up with a plan of care that is best for you and your loved one.
Penny Hanlon
http://www.cominghomeguide.com/
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Renew, Refresh, Revive!
How do you find the balance between living life and living life with an illness or disability?
The difference between living life and living life with an illness or disability is living in the moment not waiting for the moment. Instead of waiting for things to fall into place, waiting for a cure, waiting for the next doctor appointment, waiting for the next test result, waiting for your child to learn the next step learn to enjoy your life now. Do not let the illness or disability be an excuse for you.
Here are some things to consider:
Renew -
Renew your commitment to your faith, your family, your finances, and your fitness. Too many times we look for excuses to not work out, to not spend time with your spouse, to not budget your finances each month, or to not stay grounded in your faith. Renew your commitment to yourself to stay committed to your life each day.
Refresh -
Refresh your mind and attitude with a positive, "I can do this" mentality. Your needs may be great or few. Your needs may be medical or behavioral. Whatever the case, refresh your mind with a positive attitude.
Revive -
Revive your goals and dreams of what you want to do, what you want to accomplish, where you want to be in spite of the disability or illness. Do not focus on what you cannot do but focus on what you can do. The challenge is to pursue life and live it.
The difference between living life and living life with an illness or disability is living in the moment not waiting for the moment. Instead of waiting for things to fall into place, waiting for a cure, waiting for the next doctor appointment, waiting for the next test result, waiting for your child to learn the next step learn to enjoy your life now. Do not let the illness or disability be an excuse for you.
Here are some things to consider:
Renew -
Renew your commitment to your faith, your family, your finances, and your fitness. Too many times we look for excuses to not work out, to not spend time with your spouse, to not budget your finances each month, or to not stay grounded in your faith. Renew your commitment to yourself to stay committed to your life each day.
Refresh -
Refresh your mind and attitude with a positive, "I can do this" mentality. Your needs may be great or few. Your needs may be medical or behavioral. Whatever the case, refresh your mind with a positive attitude.
Revive -
Revive your goals and dreams of what you want to do, what you want to accomplish, where you want to be in spite of the disability or illness. Do not focus on what you cannot do but focus on what you can do. The challenge is to pursue life and live it.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
A Positive Perspective
It is important to maintain a positive perspective while living with a chronic illness or disability. Life still happens; you have a family to raise, a marriage to nurture, work to be done both in and outside of the home. Here are some ways to help you stay focused on the positive.
Keep things in perspective
It is easy for the illness or disability to become the main focus of your family's life. Work on keeping the illness as only a part of your life. Do not let your life be defined by the illness or disability. Keep up with family, friends, activities, and everyday life.
Keep the family routine
Work to maintain your family's "normal" routine as much as possible. If you used to coach your son's basketball team continue coaching. Go on vacation, go to family gatherings, have the birthday parties. Schedule time together, as a family, that is not involved around the illness. Schedule time away with your spouse. Stay connected with your other children. Talk with them, listen to their needs and concerns; help them to learn how to deal with their sibling's illness. Have fun and laugh together as a family. What you do and how you act, as a parent, will be a great example for your children.
Manage the illness
Work on ways to manage the illness as you learn to cope with the day to day challenges. Stay organized with your medical information. The Coming Home Medical Organizer is a great tool to help you organize and maintain all of your medical information. Communicate with your family, doctors, schools, what your needs are. Work on things that you can control, meetings, doctor appointments, activities with your children, taking a day off. Let others help you. Create a network of support from extended family, friends, your church, and neighbors.
Helping Others
Go outside of yourself so that the illness does not eat you alive. It is easy to become so wrapped up in the "illness or disability" that you can lose sight of everything else around you. Helping others will help to take the focus off of you and put it on someone else. Make a meal for someone, volunteer at your church or school, give of yourself to someone in need.
Take care of yourself
This is a must! Talk with other parents, do something you enjoy, find someone to vent to, take breaks, spend time with your spouse. It is important to renew, refresh, and recharge your batteries so that you have the strength to carry on.
Be thankful!
Be thankful for your life and what you have. There will even come a time where you will be thankful for the illness or disability, what you have learned from it and how strong you really are. Show appreciation to others. They may have helped you through prayer, encouragement, gifts, or their time but thank them for how they have helped and supported you.
Penny Hanlon
www.cominghomeguide.com
Keep things in perspective
It is easy for the illness or disability to become the main focus of your family's life. Work on keeping the illness as only a part of your life. Do not let your life be defined by the illness or disability. Keep up with family, friends, activities, and everyday life.
Keep the family routine
Work to maintain your family's "normal" routine as much as possible. If you used to coach your son's basketball team continue coaching. Go on vacation, go to family gatherings, have the birthday parties. Schedule time together, as a family, that is not involved around the illness. Schedule time away with your spouse. Stay connected with your other children. Talk with them, listen to their needs and concerns; help them to learn how to deal with their sibling's illness. Have fun and laugh together as a family. What you do and how you act, as a parent, will be a great example for your children.
Manage the illness
Work on ways to manage the illness as you learn to cope with the day to day challenges. Stay organized with your medical information. The Coming Home Medical Organizer is a great tool to help you organize and maintain all of your medical information. Communicate with your family, doctors, schools, what your needs are. Work on things that you can control, meetings, doctor appointments, activities with your children, taking a day off. Let others help you. Create a network of support from extended family, friends, your church, and neighbors.
Helping Others
Go outside of yourself so that the illness does not eat you alive. It is easy to become so wrapped up in the "illness or disability" that you can lose sight of everything else around you. Helping others will help to take the focus off of you and put it on someone else. Make a meal for someone, volunteer at your church or school, give of yourself to someone in need.
Take care of yourself
This is a must! Talk with other parents, do something you enjoy, find someone to vent to, take breaks, spend time with your spouse. It is important to renew, refresh, and recharge your batteries so that you have the strength to carry on.
Be thankful!
Be thankful for your life and what you have. There will even come a time where you will be thankful for the illness or disability, what you have learned from it and how strong you really are. Show appreciation to others. They may have helped you through prayer, encouragement, gifts, or their time but thank them for how they have helped and supported you.
Penny Hanlon
www.cominghomeguide.com
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Caregiver
Are you the primary caregiver? Is your loved one a child, elderly parent, or friend?
Taking care of your loved one's medical needs can be challenging at times. Living with a chronic illness, where your time is not your own, can easily lead to anger, frustration, and exhaustion.
But, also being in the position of caring for a chronically ill, terminally ill or disabled loved one can be one of the most beautiful blessings in your life. The daily task of brushing their hair, helping them get dressed, or helping them to eat creates an open door of trust, respect, and love.
As you take the time to care for their medical needs, no matter how severe, you begin to create a bond of faith, hope,and love. Faith says to them, I believe in you. Hope says to them, don't give up I am here for you. Love to says to them, I love you and I will care for you.
Indeed, the blessing is yours!
Penny
www.cominghomeguide.com
Taking care of your loved one's medical needs can be challenging at times. Living with a chronic illness, where your time is not your own, can easily lead to anger, frustration, and exhaustion.
But, also being in the position of caring for a chronically ill, terminally ill or disabled loved one can be one of the most beautiful blessings in your life. The daily task of brushing their hair, helping them get dressed, or helping them to eat creates an open door of trust, respect, and love.
As you take the time to care for their medical needs, no matter how severe, you begin to create a bond of faith, hope,and love. Faith says to them, I believe in you. Hope says to them, don't give up I am here for you. Love to says to them, I love you and I will care for you.
Indeed, the blessing is yours!
Penny
www.cominghomeguide.com
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Welcome!
So you are home...now what? What can you do to empower yourself, educate, and train you and your family to manage your healthcare needs on a daily basis?
Whether you are home recoverying from a hospital stay or you have a loved one that will need constant 24 hour care one of the first things to do to begin to manage their medical needs is to "Get Organized"! Organizing all of the medical information helps to prepare you and your family for the medical changes that will take place within your home and in your life.
Do not get overwhelmed by the illnes, disability, or how many doctors, therapists or medications you have to write down. Take one step at a time, and begin today managing you or your loved one's health!
Penny
www.cominghomeguide.com
Whether you are home recoverying from a hospital stay or you have a loved one that will need constant 24 hour care one of the first things to do to begin to manage their medical needs is to "Get Organized"! Organizing all of the medical information helps to prepare you and your family for the medical changes that will take place within your home and in your life.
Do not get overwhelmed by the illnes, disability, or how many doctors, therapists or medications you have to write down. Take one step at a time, and begin today managing you or your loved one's health!
Penny
www.cominghomeguide.com
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