Welcome, readers, to the month of March. March is considered an adjustment month. We have sprung forward. We have left Winter behind us. We expect warmer weather. We can prepare for the new season. caregiving duties as our elders age, and some may decline.
Health awareness and care should be top of mind. Ask yourself, what changes have occurred in your loved one that may increase your attentiveness? Has cognition declined because of stroke, dementia, or Alzheimer’s?
Has mobility declined? Have medications changed, and you need to re-educate yourself on signs and symptoms? It is also time to schedule medical appointments, including vision, hearing, foot care, skin care, and dental care.
Reevaluating home safety is important when adaptive aids such as walkers, canes, and wheelchairs are used. Furniture too close together in the home, dishes stored too high, water temperature in sinks and showers, and ensuring water spills are cleaned up when they happen must be top of mind.
Are there nutritional changes that need to be made? Caregivers must focus on healthy eating for their elderly loved ones. It is always necessary to include nutrient-rich foods that feed the brain. Examples are leafy greens, berries, and nuts to support cognitive function and well-being. Stomach troubles can creep up due to dietary intolerances, which have become more common among the elderly, so paying attention to nutrition is vital. Bowel habits must be monitored, and if any unusual changes are seen, speak with the medical team.
As Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate, I am reminding all caregivers, current and future, to understand the evolving health of our elderly loved ones. Some events happen at once (e.g., strokes or falls), but others occur over time, and if we can see them coming, we can plan ahead. A newly inactive loved one, for instance, could experience new joint pain. Identifying low-level activity could help reduce joint pain. Let’s use March to reassess and evaluate our loved ones’ needs, and if an intervention is warranted, take action! Be Safe! Be Well!
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is a retired registered nurse and case manager who serves as the CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate. She is excited to share her latest book, The Essential Caregiver Training Course for Corporations and Community. Her previous work, From the Lens of a Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers, reflects her experiences and insights from her heartfelt caregiving journey.