Sometimes You’re Smarter Than You Think You Are! |

graduate expert Sometimes Youre Smarter Than You Think You Are! Here"s an interesting and wonderful heartfelt story about a working woman who took surprising and effective initiative caring for her ailing mother.

The Globe and Mail article here spells out almost to a tee how the responsibilities of adding caregiving into an already full career and lifestyle could have taken a major toll on this working woman’s health and mind. But she used her common sense and business skill and created a system that worked brilliantly for her.

After you’ve read about her story, come back here and use the following guide to begin your own process to cope with added responsibility.

Here now is the article – remember, come back to get your template below.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/careers/management/morning-manager/sandwiched-between-a-busy-career-and-an-aging-parent/article2300104/page1/

Caregivers are Experts!

You may be working and raising a family at the same time. And your parents, or your spouse, or even a child suddenly needs your help in a way that takes up a larger portion of time – unexpectedly. What do you do?

Well, a lot of people get angry, sad, panic, and become over-stressed to the point of getting sick themselves. I don’t want that for you!

Do read the story above.

Because once you become familiar with the person you are caring for, you become the expert. And it’s you that people turn to for answers – the medical industry, the rest of your family, and even the scared, loved one him/herself relies on you to know EVERYTHING!

So how can you create the business of caring and keep your sanity?

As you read in the globe and Mail article, the woman used a business skill and strategy.

You don’t have to go to the Ivey School of Business of caregiving, so here then is a simple first step for you:

You know a lot more about your loved one than you might think. Use this template as a starting point. You will be so surprised at what you know, what you need, and what steps to take next!

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Print this page and use it as a guideline.

We’ll look at more options in the next blog post.

Until then, great job!

Medical Information
Primary Illness/Condition
Other Conditions (please list)
Medications / Therapies (please list)
Activities and Habits
Favorite Foods (please list)
Favorite Drinks
Favorite Activities
Favorite Things (Possessions)
Favorite Pieces of Clothing
Favorite People
Food allergies (please list)
Usual Wake-up / Bed Time			Wake-up:		Bedtime:
Naps (Circle best answer)			Never Sometimes Daily More than 1/day
Personal History
Places lived (please list)
Favorite Hobbies / Shows
Most recent job/occupation
Religious/Spiritual Beliefs
Levels of Assistance for Daily Activities
		Needs Help? (yes/no)		If yes, how often? (Circle one)
Bathing				Sometimes Often Always
Toileting				Sometimes Often Always
Eating				Sometimes Often Always
Bed Mobility				Sometimes Often Always
Walking/Locomotion				Sometimes Often Always
Wheelchair use				Sometimes Often Always
Dressing				Sometimes Often Always
Grooming				Sometimes Often Always
Exercises				Sometimes Often Always
Laundry				Sometimes Often Always
Incontinence				Sometimes Often Always
Housecleaning				Sometimes Often Always
Safety (preventing injuries)				Sometimes Often Always
Transportation				Sometimes Often Always
Levels of Assistance for Daily Activities
Cognitive Abilities	Needs help? (yes/no)			If yes, how often?
Medications				Sometimes Often Always
Daily Financial Assistance				Sometimes Often Always
Repetitive Questioning				Sometimes Often Always
Remembers Appointments				Sometimes Often Always
Short Term Memory Loss				Sometimes Often Always
Cognitive Abilities Continued	Needs Help? (yes/no)			If yes, how often? (Circle one)
Socialization				Sometimes Often Always
Requires Supervision				Sometimes Often Always
Inappropriate Behaviors				Sometimes Often Always
Help with Decision Making				Sometimes Often Always


Other Observances	Needs Help? (yes/no)			If yes, how often?