20% of adults in the U.S. are caregivers. One in five adults cares for an aging parent, an ailing spouse, a person with a disability or a relative or friend who needs some form of help. This book is a basic cookbook for new or existing non-professional caregivers. It is easy to read and useful as a handy reference. It helps caregivers keep their loved ones living in their own homes.
The reader learns that the person they are caring for has unique needs. Supervisory care is hands-off and personal care is hands-on caregiving. Memory loss care and palliative care are both forms of comfort caregiving. The first half of the book introduces these types of care.
Every caregiver uses fundamentals or building blocks of caregiving. The second half of the book presents: Caregiving basics - communication, infection control, and food preparation and storage. Home safety. What to do in an emergency - medical emergencies or accidents and prevention. Medication, care plans, and medical records. Financial and legal papers - gathering and/or creating documents like Advance Directives or estate planning.
