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| Caregivers' Creed |
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" Bless the beasts and the children Bless the beasts and the children --The Carpenters, 1972 After this Thanksgiving, my husband and I have no doubt that these lyrics should indeed be the creed of every family caring for a loved one. Signals of Medical ProblemsA loving visit to his dad who lives at a facility with other Alzheimer’s residents quickly morphed into an emergency-room visit because my husband and I always look at his dad’s behaviors and body language for signs of possible medical problems. In the first 10 minutes of our visit, we noticed that:
My husband rolled up his dad's sleeves... He saw that his dad’s arms and chest were covered with a rash. The care staff told us that he was being given medication to ease the itching; and that he had bruised his hand hitting a door in a fit of agitation. Trust Your InstinctsMy husband and I have been family caregivers to two sets of parents for over a decade. We have learned the hard way to: Always trust your instincts and do what you think is best for your loved one. We knew additional medical attention was needed to sort out the underlying issues and to make his dad more comfortable. Seek Medical GuidanceA visit to the emergency room, consultations with a geriatrician who understands the complexities of Alzheimer’s disease, and hospitalization to treat the underlying infection and medication issues that triggered the aggressive behaviors are all working to get his dad as well as he can be. Be Their VoiceWe caring family caregivers must trust our instincts and bless our loved ones. Be their voice. Light their way when the darkness surrounds them so that we may do our very best to keep them safe and warm. Jackie & Lon
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