Harvard Health Publishes Caregiver's Handbook

By Editor, on May 30th, 2012

Caregivers Handbook from Harvard Health Publications Harvard Health Publications of Harvard Medical School has published Caregiver’s Handbook: A guide to caring for the ill, elderly, disabled … and yourself, a basic introductory handbook to some of the topics and concerns faced by family caregivers.

In a description of the publication, Harvard Health Publications states, “Close to 49 million informal or family caregivers offer assistance of all sorts to adults in America, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP. Their efforts are vital to the lives of people struggling with illness, disability, or the changes that often accompany aging.”

“The information in this report will assist you in meeting the needs of the person you care for while attending to your own,” Harvard states.

The Harvard Caregiver’s Handbook, a 49 page PDF document, can be purchased online from Harvard Health Publications.

Here is a list of the topics covered, based upon the Table of Contents:

“Handling daily tasks and common problems

Mobility
Meals
Personal hygiene
Urinary incontinence
Bowel incontinence

Developing a plan

My caregiving goals
Scouting the path ahead
Talking with your loved one
Working with a geriatric care manager
Completing a needs questionnaire
A questionnaire to determine needs

Legal planning

Wills and trusts
Durable power of attorney
Guardianship
Advance care directives
Do-not-resuscitate orders

Financial planning

Organizing finances
Finding benefits and services
Managing insurance policies
Navigating the Medicaid and Medicare maze
Medicaid
Medicare
Medicare prescription drug coverage

Medical planning

Choosing doctors
Why choose a geriatrician?
Care in an emergency

Managing transitions: Home to hospital to rehab center

Making use of helpful services

Involving family members
Long-distance caregiving

Special section: Care for the caregiver

When your loved one can’t stay at home

Options for care
Making a move

Resources

Glossary“

Harvard’s Caregiver’s Handbook, a 49 page document, was prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publications in consultation with Anne Fabiny, M.D., Chief of Geriatrics at the Cambridge Health Alliance and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Suzanne Modigliani, L.I.C.S.W., C.M.C., Geriatric Care Manager, Brookline, MA.

The publication can be purchased as a PDF Document online from Harvard Health Publications.

More Information

For more information on the topics referenced above and others of concern to family caregivers for senior loved ones, see the HelpingYouCare™ resource pages on:

AnswersForCare™ – Comprehensive Information & Resources for Family Caregivers: