30% of Care is Unnecessary

30% of care delivered is duplicative or unnecessary.  Repost of Choosing Wisely® original report which is found here: choosingwisely.org

Despite the highly medical language (to be expected) this can serve as an excellent resource. 

Stay Healthy, Stay Smiling

Checklist to make to most of your Doctors' visit.

Here is a checklist to help you make the most of your doctor’s visit:

Before the Visit

• Write down all questions or any concerns you might have so you don’t forget them. This will help you state them clearly. Regardless of how insignificant you feel the doctor may think it is– ASK!
• Identify current symptoms. Use the following handy symptom-reporting guide.
• Update the patient file and medication list. Be sure to include all medications, over the counter drugs and supplements.
• Call to confirm appointment

During the Visit

• Bring the updated medication list
• Clearly report all of your loved one’s symptoms; don’t try to diagnose the problem.
• Ask your questions and record the answers
• Record doctor's instructions
• Discuss recommendations
• Verify follow-up

After the Visit

• Review your notes
• Check prescriptions
• Discuss the visit
• Update your calendar
• Call for test results

 What types of questions to ask if it’s the first visit:

• What can we expect as the normal progression of the diagnosis?
• What kind of physical and emotional support will she/he need to maintain independence?
• Are there particular signs and symptoms we need to look for and report?
• Is there any training I need in order to be able to support her/him? If so where can we get the training?
• How best can we manage pain or discomfort?
• What is and what is not treatable?
• Are there any assistive devices or gadgets that will help in maintaining independence?
• Are there any resources or services that would be helpful for her/him or for us as caregivers?

First published at: http://www.caregiveraction.org/profiles/tools/doctor-office-checklist/

and Washington State Department of Social Services Aging and Long-Term Support Administration

4 Easy Steps of Disposing Unused Meds

Dispose of Unused Medications Properly

·         Step 1: Crush or dilute medication
·         Step 2: Put medication in plastic bag
·         Step 3: Add kitty litter, sawdust, or coffee grounds to plastic bag
·         Step 4: Seal plastic bag and place in trash


NOTE: Most medications should not be flushed, but there are a small number that should be. Check with the pharmacist to find out if medications should or should not be flushed. 

14 Items Every Medication List Needs..

What Should be on the Medication List?

1. Drug and other allergies
2. Drugs to which you experienced a negative reaction (couldn't tolerate it)
3. Name of drug – generic and brand names
4. Dose
5. Start and stop dates
6. What the pill/capsule/liquid looks like
7.  A record of any side effects experienced
8. What the drug is treating
9. How and when to take the medication
10. What not to do when taking the medication
11. Over the Counter medications and supplements with their doses
12. Recently completed prescriptions
13. Name/contact info of prescribers (physician/physician assistant/nurse practitioner…)
14. Name/contact info for pharmacy that filled the prescription(s)

Traditions Continued

I hope everyone had a great long holiday weekend with friends, family, food and fun. Going through this weekend reminded me of family traditions and our need for that kind of continuity. Then as always I think about other families, caregivers, carees and such. My advise/request is simple. Write down a day in the life of your loved one. Write down all the special things you do for them that you would want done if you were not present. For example, if your caree wakes up every morning looking forward to a cup of coffee with 2 sugars and a cream write it down. Especially for those that can not voice their own desires. Not getting that cup of coffee is not the end of the world for us but for someone with spotty memory it is more the association than the coffee.  

It is not enough to just make sure our caree is set financially, but those routines that come with everyday life are equally important. If every July 4th you take your loved one on a picnic to the park and watch fireworks... imagine if they don't get to go? Or if they hate fireworks for some reason, imagine if they are forced to go. 

Life is made up of moments and memories and once the memory starts to fade we have only the moments.

Stay Healthy, Stay Smiling. 

Prepare Your Family for any Medical Emergency

Worried that you or a loved one may one day run into some medical emergency and you are not there to tell medical history highlights? Stop worrying and do something about it.  Make your own medical emergency card for each family member.  All you need: an index card and a pen or even better just print this card.  

You can laminate this if you want but all you need to do is put one copy in your wallet and one in their bag, purse, lunchbox…