Native elder caregiver curriculum NECC: 2.4 Assessment Day to Day

1. Caring for Our Elders: “Day to Day” Assessment 2.4 Native elder caregiver curriculumNECC: 2.4 Assessment Day to Day Caring for Our Elders: “Day to Day” Assessment 2.4

2. “Day to Day” Assessments for Native Elders by Caregivers Caregivers: • make many observations about their elders • have the best insight into the small & subtle changes that might occur with elders • are the “eyes & ears & voice” for helping elders receive appropriate health care Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

3. “Day to Day” Assessment • Caregivers as “eyes, ears, & voice” for elders • Assess safety of environment • Learn about the medical conditions the elder has to live with • Learn what to watch for: swelling, fever, pain, etc. Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

4. “Day to Day” Assessment: Safety • Assessing safety of environment • See Home Safety Checklist in Appendix B of binder • Falls are very dangerous to an elder! • Best to prevent falls! • Fix handrails, pick up throw rugs, provide good lighting, install grab bars in bathrooms, provide nightlights, etc. Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

5. “Day to Day” Assessment • What are the kinds of things ONLY a caregiver may notice? • Eating pattern • Sleeping pattern • Mental alertness • Emotional behaviors & moods • Functional abilities Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

6. “Day to Day” Assessment • Learning to take basic health-related measurements: • Pulse • Temperature • Blood pressure • Blood sugar Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

7. “Day to Day” Assessment: BG • Blood Glucose Monitoring • “checking the sugar” Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

8. Checking Blood Glucose at Home • Very useful in: • “emergencies” • To check for low or high sugar levels • Especially when someone with diabetes becomes unconscious or develops other symptoms Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

9. “Day to Day” Assessment: BG • Checking Blood Glucose at home • improving diabetes control • Informing health care providers of blood glucose patterns over time Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

10. “Day to Day” Assessment: BP • Can buy inexpensive electronic blood pressure (BP) cuff • very simple to use! • Keep written record of Blood Pressures (BP) Caring for Our Elders: 2.3 Living with symptoms: Assessment

11. “Day to Day” Assessment: BP • Blood pressure (BP) monitoring at home • Check BP readings between clinic visits • Need to Know! • 1) the “usual” BP • 2) the “goal” BP Caring for Our Elders: 2.3 Living with symptoms: Assessment

12. “Day to Day” Assessment: Medications • Does the Elder need help with Medications? • Have updated list of medications ready for any trip to the Clinic or ER • Ask doctor / nurse / pharmacist to help to make an updated list • make copies of the list to keep for emergencies Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

13. “Day to Day” Assessment: Medications (continued) • Visit with health care provider about medications for the elder • What are names of the medications? • What do they do? • What to watch for? • What to call about? Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

14. “Day to Day” Assessment: Medications (continued) • Assist with setting up medications in pill box • If needed, ask for help from Public Health Nurse to: • Set-up pills into med boxes • Draw up insulin syringes • Use boxes that are clearly marked Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

15. “Day to Day” Assessment: Medications(continued) • Assist with insulin injections if necessary • Ask Public Health Nurse for assistance with set-up of insulin syringes if needed • There are many kinds of insulin… Important to know! • Ask for instructions!!! Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

16. “Day to Day” Assessment: Medications(continued) • Take unused medications back to pharmacy • Elders can easily get confused • Can end up taking • the wrong medication • or two of the same medications !! Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

17. “Day to Day” Assessment: Footcare • Footcare for elders, & especially those with diabetes: • Check feet everyday for cuts, blisters, callus, athlete’s foot, sores, redness, swelling, etc. • Find problems with feet? • GET PERSON to CLINIC ! Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

18. “Day to Day” Assessment: Footcare • Footcare for elders with diabetes • Assist elder to wash feet daily • Put on clean socks every day • Help to find well-fitting shoes • Find referral source for podiatrist to cut toenails & care for callouses, bunions, etc. • Apply lotion to entire foot but NOT between toes • Check between toes for “athlete’s foot” Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

19. “Day to Day” Assessment: Footcare • Footcare for elders with diabetes • Teach elder to NEVER go barefoot, even in the house! • Teach elder to check inside of shoes before putting on • Prevent injury due to “neuropathy” • Not able to feel something in the shoe that can injure the foot while walking Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

20. “Day to Day” Assessment: Footcare • Footcare for elders with diabetes • Assist elder to be fitted for specially fitted, non-irritating shoes • Can check with Medicare on funding • Find referral source for podiatrist to cut toenails & care for calluses, bunions • Need podiatry! Very important! Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

21. Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment

22. Caring for Our Elders: 2.4 “Day to Day” Assessment