Cathy Cress

Expert in Aging Life and Geriatric Care Management

Have you Gotten a Gift for a Caregiver-The People Paid Little or Nothing But Are the Meaning of True Love??

 

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What can we do for family caregivers for valentine’s day? Valentine’s day is about love. Can we count the ways family care givers caring for an aging family members represent the heart and soulful  love of Valentines Day.

What can you give a caregiver on Valentine’s Day?

Loving gifts, including chocolate which we all covet but comes in handy to relieve stress and of course added to respite maybe  a few hours off, maybe on valentine’s day itself would be sweet gift.

Another gift is the simple act of thanking them for all they do at such a cost to themselves that they rarely voice . Here is another list of gifts including pampering  caregivers and a way to find the right spa  . AARP has its own terrific list with aromatherapy and bath essentials

 

If you have an aging parent caring for a spouse they can experience most fraught filled valentine’s day. The person who you gave all your heart to – at times for many decades- is there but not there in a way they can be a classic valentines love  . So, taking the couple out for dinner or  giving respite to the spouse and taking her to a special valentine’s brunch or event- so she can share the love you have for him or her. This can be a soulful warm gift for someone spending time with the love of their life who is not able to share the romantic day any more.

 

Can’t make a gift yourself and want an idea. Pinterest has a whole board of gifts for caregivers in including valentine . Amazon has a whole list and if have a prime membership you can order today and they will deliver it

Finally, AARP has a tech list for caregivers that has good ideas

Should You Assess The Well Being of the Family Caregiver?

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Assessing the well being of the caregiver

The caregiver assessment should include assessing the well being of the caregiver. Well-being is broken down into self-rated health, health conditions and symptoms, depression and emotional stress anxiety , life satisfaction and quality of life.

 

Caregiver’s mental health is critical to assess. Caregiver’s suffer from high rates of depression and anxiety and feelings of anger. It’s estimated that 40-70% of caregiver’s of older adults with these various disorders have clinically significant symptoms of depression and one quarter to one had have clinically significant symptoms of depression in the past.

So doing a Geriatric Depression Scale  or another depression scale is always a good idea for a care manager in tandem with a caregiver assessment.

Among the costs of caregiving is the caregiver’s health. About one in five caregivers report that their physical health has suffered by being a caregiver.

 

The care manager should ask the caregiver for a simple rating of their health. This included asking whether their health is changing, if they currently have health problems, including diagnosed symptoms and illnesses. The care manager also should ask if they are getting treatment for these symptoms.  Some caregiver’s put off going to the doctor, if they have heavy care. Suggesting that they may a doctor’s appointment  for a check-up is something that should be a goal of a caregiver assessment.

 

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