Weekly Newsletter for Caregivers

April 12, 2023

Welcome back to this week's newsletter!

For this week, we will cover tips for preventing falls and caregiver injuries.

We'll also share community workshops & events happening this month.

Quote of the Week:

“When we are no longer able to change a situation,

we are challenged to change ourselves.”

-Viktor Frankl

Preventing Falls & Caregiver Injuries

Be prepared! Know yourself, know your loved one, prepare your environment

Know yourself: Are you tired? Do you know good body mechanics for lifting and moving?
Know your loved one: Are they tired; Are they more confused or upset? Do you have a good connection with them in that moment (eye contact, smiles)?
Know your environment & get the equipment you need: non slip rugs, removable armrests on wheelchairs, brakes on wheelchairs, bed handles, bathroom raised toilet seats, installed grab bars, etc.

Here’s a link with a basic list of assistive devices from Web MD:

Assistive Devices for Older Adults

Example: Transfer pole

Example: Sliding board

Getting help: OT, PT, equipment

Occupational Therapist’s (OT) will come to your home and see what is needed to make sure that both you and your loved one don’t get injured: Equipment that Medicare or MediCal will pay for; How do you get that done.

Physical Therapist’s (PT) might come to your home to work with you & your loved one. Assistive devices for walking on different surfaces or circumstances.

Equipment: many mousetraps!

Learn good body mechanics:

Protect your back! Anticipate and prevent sudden unexpected “loads”
Get help. Get trained by OT and or PT.
Different situations require different approaches: in and out of the car; on and off bed; repositioning in bed; getting up from chairs, couches, floor. Walking inside, outside, up or down a hill; stairs. Managing a wheelchair on different surfaces.

Wellness Tips -- for you and your loved one:

Positive attitude
Enough sleep
Friends and family helping
Support group of other caregivers
Exercise, exercise, exercise
Good posture
Mindfulness/relaxation
Healthy diet

After a fall in this order:

Assess, injured or not?
Re-assure your loved one, make them comfortable.
Call for help if needed.
If no injury (because they don’t report pain when trying to move) assist with getting up from the floor.
If that proves difficult (any reason) call 911 & ask for assist to get loved one up.

Keep your doctor in the loop:

Report falls to Primary Care Physician after a fall or when they have their next visit. Doctor can assess for medications contributing to falls, or for new or progressing medical problems that can be addressed.

Also, your physician can order a home health PT or OT to come to your home if your loved one has had a “change in condition” — that is covered by Medicare or Medicare Advantage