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Caregiving Resources

Walking & Home Safety

Preventing Falls

Facts About Falls
Older adults, caregivers, and healthcare providers can work together to reduce the risk of falling and prevent devastating injuries.
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Fall Assessment Test
If you're worried about your loved one's susceptibility to falls, start here with this simple yes/no questionnaire from the CDC.
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Fall Prevention Checklist
Use this simple checklist to "fall proof" your loved one's home, minimizing hazards and risk.
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Medications Linked to Falls
This quick reference sheet will give you an idea about what medications may be linked to falls.
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Fall Prevention Video
This video follows an occupational therapist as they visit an individuals home and help make alterations to prevent falls.
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Safe Mobility Video
This video from AARP provides some more great tips on removing fall hazards from a home, making it safer for older adults.
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Fall Modifications
Aging In Place Is A High Priority For Many Older Adults. Here Are Simple Ways To Improve Home Safety Through Home Modifications That Reduce The Risk Of Falling.
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Home Modifications

Interior Modifications
It all starts inside of the home. Use this guide to learn about modifications to entry ways, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, and beyond.
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Exterior Modifications
It doesn't end indoors... learn how to modify exterior walkways, sidewalks, and more to help minimize hazards at your loved one's home.
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Yard Modifications
This article provides tips on reducing the risk of falls in your loved one's back yard.
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Bathroom Modifications Video
This video is a bit old, but it stands the test of time! Watch and learn some great tips for removing hazards from the bathroom.
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Installing Bed Rails
This video will quickly teach you how to properly install bedrails to help make the bedroom a safer space.
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Does Medicare Cover This?
Paying for home modifications can be extremely burdensome. Read here to learn about how Medicare might be able to help.
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Physical Mobility

PT vs OT
Physical Therapy vs Occupational Therapy.
What do each of them mean, how do they work, and when are they needed.?
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Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation helps an older adult to be as independent as possible in everyday activities. Learn more here.
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Physical Therapy Costs
What does physical therapy cost? Is it covered by Medicare? Those answers and more in this article from AARP.
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Occupational Therapy Costs
What does occupational therapy cost? Is it covered by Medicare? Those answers and more in this article from Medical News Today.
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Cooking & Eating

Meal & Utensil Alterations

Adaptive Utensils
Older adults affected by conditions like stroke, Alzheimer’s, dementia, tremors, or neuropathy often have trouble eating independently.
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Chewing Difficulties
Due to tooth loss and other health condition like weakness after stroke, chewing problem is common among elders. These are ways to plan around that.
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Understanding Dysphagia
Dysphagia, simply known as swallowing difficulties, is a common issue for older adults. Learn more about it here.
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Dysphagia Solutions
Thickening liquids and other options can help older adults with swallowing problems.
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Grocery Shopping & Meal Planning

Grocery Delivery Apps
If shopping for groceries is difficult, these apps let you do it from the comfort of your own home. Order and send directly to your loved one.
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Meal Kit Delivery
Meal planning can be a pain, these meal kit companies do it all for you, providing both groceries and recipes for easy preparation of balanced meals.
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Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels has been supporting seniors with healthier, nourished lives for decades. Find a local chapter here.
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Understanding Food Groups
If you're meal planning for your loved one, it is importnat to understand how to develop a balanced meal plan for them.
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Meal Planning Apps
Make meal planning easier. Read through these apps and choose one that will work the best for you and the person you are caring for.
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Eating Healthy

Eating in Your 50s
This article contains 9 ideas to maintain a healthy diet for those in their fifties.
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Eating in Your 60s
This article includes 10 different spices that can help you maintain a healthy diet in your 60s.
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Eating in Your 70s
This article focuses on the way that the food pyramid changes as you age, allowing for a healthy diet for those in their 70s.
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Eating in Your 80s
This article is fine tuned towards helping those in their eighties create a diet that will help boost their brain functionality.
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Staying Hydrated
Hydration is always important. Here are 6 tips on how to help older adults stay hydrated.
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Grooming & Toileting

Dressing

Adaptive Clothing
For older adults who are mobility challenged, adaptive clothing can help them maintain their independence, or help you as a caregiver to dress them more easily.
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Adaptive Shoes
Choosing non-slip, easy to take on or off shoes is important for independence and care. Here are a few options to get you started in your search.
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Understand Incontinence
One of the most embarrassing factors of aging can be incontinence. The more you understand it, the better you'll be able to communicate with your loved ones about it.
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Choosing Incontinence Products
Urinary incontinence is a common problem that occurs in many age groups for many reasons. No matter the reason, incontinence might require you to buy adult briefs.
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Bathing

Bathing An Older Adult
This video is a great guide if you are looking to understand how you should be bathing a loved one under your care.
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Help With a Shower
The University of Michigan provides some great advice on how to help an older adult shower.
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Bathing & Dressing
Another popular video, this gives another opinion on how to bathe (and also dress) an older adult under your care.
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Dressing An Older Adult
Dressing an older adult in your care can be more difficult than you might first imagine. Here is some great advice from the Alzheimer's Society on how to do it right.
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Dress Someone In Bed
This video will quickly teach you how to undress and dress someone who is bedridden.
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Toileting

Understanding Incontinence
How is incontinence diagnosed? What sort of exercises, devices, or medications might help? When to discuss it with a doctor.
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Discussing Incontinence
This is a helpful video when it comes to speaking with a loved one about incontinence.
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Toileting Products
This video gives a great rundown of the various devices that can be used to help an older adult use the toilet.
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Toileting Support
This quick reference guide can help you with using bed pans, managing catheters, and more.
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Transferring

Lifting & Positioning

Lifting Someone From The Floor
This video provides simple, step by step guidance on how to safely lift an older adult from the floor after a fall.
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Getting Out of a Bathtub
Getting in and out of a bathtub can be tough for an older adult, especially if you haven't installed any rails. This video will guide you through the process.
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Repositioning Someone In Bed
Turning someone from one side to another in bed can be more difficult than you'd expect. This video runs you through the process.
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Support Devices

Comfort Devices
There are a myriad of devices that you can purchase to help your loved one stay comfortable. This slide show covers a number of the basics that you should consider.
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Transportation

Transportation Options

Ride Sharing Apps
Getting around town has become a lot easier these days. Consider setting your loved one up with an account on one of the top ride sharing apps.
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Beyond Ride Share Apps
There are a multitude of other transportation options out there, including some that are covered by certain medicare plans.
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Options Specifically For Seniors
Rides In Sight™ provides information about senior transportation options in local communities throughout the United States.
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Safety First

Safety Tips for Older Drivers
If your loved ones are still driving themselves, be sure to run through this list of safety tips and be sure that they are strictly adhering to them.
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A Positive Transition
Every older adult will come to a crossroad when it comes to giving up their keys. This detailed document will help you tackle that issue and plan for a positive transition.
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Preventing Falls
Whether taking a bus, loading onto a subway car, or just getting in and out of a car, falling is a hazard. Help your loved one stay safe with these tips.
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Driving Evaluations
Not sure if someone should still be driving? Wondering what condition they are in to be safe on the road? Take a look here.
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Finances

Transitioning Finances & Power

Having The Conversation
Perhaps the toughest part of taking over your parents' finances is having that initial conversation. These 10 pieces of advice will help you through the process.
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Taking Inventory
The first step in transferring over important documentation is to know what you need and where it lives. Here is a great checklist to get you started.
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Health Care Directives
Appointing someone to be able to make decisions for a loved one who is no longer able to make those decisions on their own is important, but can be confusing. This article will get you started.
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Conservatorships
When someone is no longer able to handle his or her own financial or personal affairs, the court can appoint an individual or professional to act on behalf of the incapacitated person.
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Advance Directive Forms
If you are looking to create an advance directive for your loved one, this site has the forms that you'll need.
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Affording Help

Budgeting To Become a Caregiver
Caring for an aging parent or loved one can mean a lot of extra costs. This article will help you budget properly for this moment.
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Personal Care Agreements
Compensating a family member to help care for a loved one can be both important and complicated at the same time. You should consider an agreement to keep things in check.
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Medicare
While its likely that you've heard of Medicare, do you actually know what it is, what it covers, and what it costs?
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Reverse Mortgage
Many older adults have their savings tied up in their home. A reverse mortgage can help you borrow money based on the home value to help pay for care.
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Communications

Face To Face Communication

Picture Boards
Many older adults can have difficulties communicating. Using picture boards can be a great help. This site has further information and downloadable boards.
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Hearing Aids
There is no shame in needing a hearing aid, but there are plenty of questions. This article should help answer most of them.
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Medical Communications
As a caregiver, you'll need to take the lead on conversations with medical personnel. This article will help guide you through the process be it for a checkup or an emergency.
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Distanced Communication

Medical Alert Systems
Whether or not your aging loved one is living alone, considering a medical alert system to help them in an emergency could be important. This guide will help you select the right product.
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Fall Alerts
Falling Is More Than Just Scary For An Older Adult. Choosing The Best Medical Alert Systems With Fall Detection Can Be A Life Or Death Decision.
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Cell Phones for Older Adults
Cell phones these days can be quite complicated. If you're caring for someone with cognititve decline or dexterity issues, you should consider a specialized cell phone.
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Video Communications
Video is an amazing way to battle isolation. Consider finding a device that is easy to use in order to stay connected with your loved ones.
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Managing Medications

Managing & Administering Medications

Medication Management
Medication Safety For Older Adults Doesn’t Have To Be Complicated - Check Out Our List Of 7 Ways To Improve Medication Management For Older Adults.
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Medication Management
This video is a great introduction to medication management for caregivers. If you're new to this role, it will provide you with the information that you need to get started.
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Managing Medications
This video is a bit long, but properly managing medications for your loved one is worth the time to understand.
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Set Up A Dosage System
This video will give you tips on setting up a dosage system (plus there are links in the description for a few other great videos as well).
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Pill Dispensers
Keeping track of daily medications is tough. This list of pill dispensers will give you some great ideas on how to simplify the process.
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Medication Worksheet
Writing down and organizing all of your loved one's medications will help you greatly in the long run or if someone needs to step in and help.
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Home Health Aide
If you're considering assistance in your caregiving role, this article will help guide you through the decision process.
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Safety Tips

Safe Use of Medicines
The National Institute on Aging provides great advice and safety tips when it comes to medicine for older adults.
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Common Questions
This is a great FAQ if you're wondering about side effects, timing, interactions, and beyond.
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Disposing Unused Medicine
This is an important video that will teach you how to safely dispose of unused or expired medicine.
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General Safety Tips
These 4 mediation safety tips for older adults will set you on your way to avoid unwanted side effects or interactions.
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Miscellaneous

Managing Pets

Animal Companions
Dogs can be a great addition to the life of a person with dementia. This article provides 6 things to consider before adopting a pet for an older adult who is experiencing cognitive decline.
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Choosing a Dog
Dogs Provide Companionship, Unconditional Love, And Entertainment To No End. Here Are The 12 Best Dog Breeds For Older Adults.
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Caring For Someone Else's Dog
You'll have your hands full as a caregiver for an older adult. Add a dog to the mix, and it's another level of pressure. This video provides a few tips.
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What If The Pet Dies?
Of course we don't want to imagine this scenario, but it happens. If a dog or cat dies at the house of someone you are caring for, follow this advice.
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Caring For Someone Else's Dog
You'll have your hands full as a caregiver for an older adult. Add a dog to the mix, and it's another level of pressure. This video provides a few tips.
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What If The Pet Dies?
Of course we don't want to imagine this scenario, but it happens. If a dog or cat dies at the house of someone you are caring for, follow this advice.
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Moving In/Out

Relocating Your Parents
Sometimes there is no better choice than to relocate your parent(s) in order to better care for them. This article will help guide you through the process.
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Downsizing
Moving an older adult into a new, smaller space can be tricky. One issue will be downsizing their belongings. This article will help guide you through the process.
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Moving Into A Community
If and when the time comes to moved your loved one into a community, you'll be overloaded with questions. This article should help you organize your thoughts.
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Leaving The Hospital
If you're taking care of an older adult who is just leaving the hospital, this guide and checklist will make sure you're organized and safe.
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Discharge Planning Checklist
This is another great checklist if you're dealing with someone who has just been discharged from the hospital.
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Other Things To Learn

Caregiving Hacks
Caregiving Is Tough. That Is Why We Put Together The Ultimate Guide To Caregiving Hacks That Will Hopefully Help Make Your Day A Bit Easier.
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Emergency Preparedness
Natural disasters, fires, or even pandemics can hit at any time. As a caregiver, it's important to have a checklist for emergencies.
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Caregiving With Siblings
Caregiving with your siblings can be more complicated than you'd like and lead to family strife and conflict. This article can help you approach the process properly.
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What To Do When A Loved One Dies
It is an unimaginable moment, but we are all mortal. If and when you must deal with a death, this guide will lead you through the process for what comes next.
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