Caring for someone that is seriously ill is a challenging and time-consuming. The new caregiver's task of absorbing the new responsibility into the already hectic life of a caregiver can be overwhelming. This article offers some organizing strategies that will reduce time and effort required to complete the essential tasks, and helps to ease your anxiety at the same time.

Communication

During my caregiving experience, I discovered that communication with friends and family members to provide updates an overwhelming task. Communicating the same data several times is time-consuming. To share information with a wider, yet curious group of people you could consider starting a blog or e-mail to update information once instead of multiple times. Responses to blog comments or e-mail messages can be made at a time that is convenient for the caregiver rather than each when a phone rings. Gaining control over the needed communications reduces anxiety and stress that comes with multiple interruptions throughout your day. I found that using a blog to facilitate communication also reduced the issues that arise from misinterpreting information at it passes between people. The blog or e-mail serves to be the "single source" of truth.

Medical History

A patient who is seriously ill often requires frequent appointments with specialists, doctors as well as hospitals. One of the most frequently asked questions by health care professionals included medications that the patient takes. In addition, there were frequent inquiries about other health care providers such as insurance prescriptions, surgeries, pharmacy visits and allergies. Recording this information into one place, either in writing or electronically makes sure you have all of the details readily available in case of need. When maintained, this helps to reduce medical errors. Trying to recall information at a hospital or during an emergency is difficult and often leads to omission of critical information or sharing the wrong information. A side benefit is a reduced stress level for the caregiver.

Medication List

A seriously ill patient often requires a variety of Elderly medication. Again, if you keep all medications in a single location along with a dosing schedule you can avoid mistakes with medication. This also lets you assign the responsibility of providing medication to others as needed, giving you the freedom to divide the burden and take on other tasks. When maintained, the medication list provides an easy recall of information needed by health care providers and emergency services.

Medicine Information

If you are taking multiple medications, the potential of side effects is significantly increased. Pharmacies offer medicine information sheets when dispensing medications. The information on medicine is also available through the Internet. Keeping the medicine information together in one place allows you to find quickly the information you require, if you suspect the one you care for has problems with medication. If you suffer from a serious illness you realize that many doctors are prescribing medications. This list will help you keep all doctors updated to help avoid issues at the beginning. If an adverse reaction does happen, doctors often have alternatives to medication.

Calendar

The patient who is severely ill usually requires numerous health care appointments. I suggest using a calendar to track each appointment. It does not really matter whether it is an electronic or paper version. A calendar that is available reduces the difficulties of planning too much on one day or creating overlapping appointments.

The tips I offer are groundbreaking, but every one of these tiny organization tips adds to the end result in time. Our minds are powerful, but often overwhelmed when trying to deal with too many issues at once or try to keep track of too many things. Untangling the mind from details lets you focus on the important subjects or other activities. The freedom from details can also help reduce the anxiety you experience when carrying the responsibility of caring for your loved one.

Suddenly a Caregiver

A family's experiences along with lessons to guide you navigate the daunting responsibility of becoming a family caregiver.