The Knee Bone's Connected To ...
tsb

Such a face! Daddy Bones@ age 12, gracing the book's cover.

 

 How to Keep Your Sanity Intact When a Loved One Needs a Nursing Home  

It’s estimated that more than 50 million people provide care for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend during any given year.

Studies show that extremely stressed caregivers can age or die prematurely. 

“Bette Davis said ‘old age is no place for sissies,’ but caring for an older loved one isn’t for the feint of heart, either,” says Bones. “I loved my dad and we were very close, but the strain of ‘putting’ him in a nursing home was so overwhelming for all of us that I felt like I was on the edge of a nervous breakdown.”

Becoming aware of some of the don’ts” of long-term care can make daily life easier for nursing home residents and for their family caretakers,” she notes.

Bones offers some key examples from her Nursing Home Checklist:

· Ask clergy, family, and friends - especially those in the health care field - to recommend outstanding nursing homes.

· When touring a nursing home, ask other visitors for frank feedback about the facility. Don’t just inspect the “sample” room, look into residents’ rooms to check for cleanliness.

· Assure your loved one that you will be their ongoing advocate.

· Visit your loved one often and at varying times of the day - and night. This alerts all of the caregivers that you are keeping an eye on your loved one.

· Get to know the staff, especially your loved one’s immediate caregivers.

· Thank the employees for the thankless job that they do.

· Put your loved one’s name on all their belongings, including clothes and personal products. Never leave money or valuables in their room.

· Place a quilt, photos and other small touches to create a “homey” room.

· Put a brief bio and picture of your loved one at the entrance of their room to “introduce” them to staff and visitors.

. Bring old photos when you visit your loved one - it will give you something to look at if conversation lags.

. Bring different edible treats to spice-up the resident's menu.

 

 


 

 

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Tuesday
May262009

And the Password IS...

DateTuesday, May 26, 2009 at 06:26PM

OK, I want to you try this: Make a list of all your passwords. You know, they're the secret code you invented for your ATM and your Lands End account and your online banking and all that other good stuff. Sure, sure, you want to use just a single code for everything, but then some son of a gun on Facebook already has the nerve to stake a claim on your masterpiece, so you have to create another gem. Once you make your list, sit back and think of a day when the only code you had to remember was the number on your bicycle lock. Dems were da days...What's with all these passwords, anyway? Do we really need a password to find out more about Comedy Central? To become an inside member of the Victoria's Secret frequent buyers club? Is it just me or does it all seem a bit much? I just wanna scream, "Relax, everyone!" but I never do, I just scan my brain for a new, fresh, clever code. And then, before you know it, my head becomes so crammed, I up and forget the code to my bike lock...

AuthorDiane Bones | CommentPost a Comment |

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