Family Caregiver Handbook - Oregon

OREGON DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Family Caregiver Handbook

A guide for family and other unpaid caregivers who care for older adults or persons with disabilities

The Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) wishes to thank the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services Aging and Disability Services Administration for allowing DHS to adapt its well-respected Family Caregiver Handbook. Many Oregon family caregivers will benefit from the information presented in it. Many thanks to our neighbors to the north! The Family Caregiver Handbook can be accessed and downloaded at .

Oregon Department of Human Services

Aging and People with Disabilities Program, State Unit on Aging

Caregiver's Bill of Rights

I have the right: To take care of myself. This is not an act of selfishness. It will enable me to take better care of my loved one.

I have the right: To seek help from others even though my loved one may object. I recognize the limits of my own endurance and strength.

I have the right: To maintain facets of my own life that do not include the person I care for, just as I would if he or she were healthy. I know that I do everything that I reasonably can for this person, and I have the right to do some things for myself.

I have the right: To get angry, be depressed and express other difficult emotions occasionally.

I have the right: To reject any attempt by my loved one (either conscious or unconscious) to manipulate me through guilt, anger or depression.

I have the right: To receive consideration, affection, forgiveness and acceptance from my loved one for as long as I offer these qualities in return.

I have the right: To take pride in what I am accomplishing and to applaud the courage it sometimes takes to meet the needs of my loved one.

I have the right: To protect my individuality and my right to make a life for myself that will sustain me when my loved one no longer needs my full-time help.

I have the right: To expect and demand that as new strides are made in finding resources to aid physically and mentally impaired persons in our country, similar strides will be made toward aiding and supporting caregivers.

First appeared in Jo Horne's book Caregiving: Helping an Aging Loved One (AARP Books, 1985)

Table of contents

Introduction........................................................................................... 1

The Family Caregiver Support Program........................................................................................................ 1 Internet resources...................................................................................................... 1

Changing roles and relationships........................................................2

Safeguarding the care receiver's dignity and choice............................................... 2 Caregiving and family relationships.................................................................... 2

Getting the information you need to provide quality care.................................... 3 Working with doctors........................................................................................... 3

Providing day-to-day care....................................................................5

Bathing.................................................................................................................. 5 Shaving.................................................................................................................. 6 Mouth care............................................................................................................ 6 Denture care.......................................................................................................... 6 Dressing................................................................................................................. 7 Hair care................................................................................................................. 7 Refusing to eat...................................................................................................... 8 Incontinence and toileting................................................................................... 9 Skin care.................................................................................................................... 12 Lifting or moving a person...................................................................................... 14 Managing medications............................................................................................ 16 Working with the doctor and pharmacist......................................................... 16 Tips for safely managing medications............................................................... 19 Finding less expensive medications.................................................................. 20

Dealing with challenging personalities and behaviors while providing care...........................................................................21

Tips and suggestions on dealing with difficult behaviors...................................................................................... 21 Challenging behaviors and dementia............................................................... 25

Safety in the home.............................................................................27

Controlling the spread of infection............................................................................................................... 27

Immunizations..................................................................................................... 28

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