• Caregivers Journal
  Some tips for setting up a notebook to keep track of your caregiving situation.
  
  
• Caregiving Guidelines 
  Whatever the specifics of your situation, there are some important basic guidlines to remember when you provide care for a loved one.

The Caregiving Process

• Caregiving Basics
  What is a caregiver? What does a caregiver do? Here are some things to think about as you begin your own caregiving process.
  
  
• Chronic or Ongoing Care
  How can you improve the quality of care you provide? What changes (if any) need to be made? Here are some guidelines for evaluating your role in the ongoing care process.
  
  
• End-of-Life Caregiving
  Here are some issues and approaches worth considering in an end-of-life caregiving situation.
  
  
• Planning For Tomorrow
  Once you’ve addressed your loved one’s immediate needs, both you and the person you care for need to think about planning for the future.
  
  
• The Caregiving Process
  Caregiving is a process that evolves over time. Understanding and anticipating changing situations will help you be a better caregiver.

Communication

• Accepting The Diagnosis
  If your loved one has been diagnosed with a chronic or terminal illness, here are some strategies that may help you, your loved one, and other friends and family members adjust to the new situation.
  
  
• Better Family Communications
  The better family members can communicate with each other, the better they can deal with hard times and difficult decisions.
  
  
• Communications Skills
  Learning to communicate effectively with your loved one is a key to maintaining a good caregiving relationship.
  
  
• Good Listening Skills
  Learning to communicate effectively with your loved one is often simply a matter of learning to listen. Here are eight tips that can help you be a better listener.
  
  
• Talking To The Sight Or Hearing Impaired
  Suggestions that may help you and your loved one communicate more effectively.

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Decision Making

• Caregiving Decision Questionaire
  A brief list of questions to help you set prioities and solve caregiving problems.
• Making Caregiving Decisions
  Here’s a process to make those tough decisions easier.
• Needs Assessment Worksheet
  This worksheet will help you and other family members determine what types of assistance your loved one needs.  A brief list of questions to help you set prioities and solve caregiving problems.

   

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  Getting Organized

• Caregiver’s Document Organizer
  A form that will help you identify, locate, and organize the important documents your will need as a primary caregiver. 
• Organizing Household Records
  Tips to help your organize your loved one’s important papers—and your own. 
• Personal Records
  A form to help you keep track of your loved one’s personal records and other important information. 
• Sample Filing System
  Listed below is one possible method for setting up a home filing system. You should adopt a system that fits your needs and those of your family.
• Storing Important Documents
  Some information to consider when you purchase a safe deposit box or home safe in which to store legal documents and other important papers. 
• Your Valuable Records
  A form to help you keep track of all of your family’s valuable records.

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• Geriatric Care Managers
  Geriatric care managers are trained professionals who can help you with every aspect of the caregiving process.

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