Ask the Expert
Care Plan
| Q: | What is a Care Plan and do I really need to have one?
— Susan, Davis, CA |
| A: | The caregiver's care plan is very similar to a nurse's care plan. It is a daily record of the care and treatment of the care-receiver. It provides a record of events that assist everyone on the care team. It also allows another caregiver to take your place fairly easily.
With a written (or online) plan you don't have to rely on your memory. A daily record will help both the care-receiver and the caregiver. It will serve as a reference tool that can be reviewed as the patient's needs or conditions change. In the long run it leads to better health care and quality of life. |
I'm not cut out for this job
| Q: | I'm a caregiver for my elderly father and realize that I'm not cut out for this job. We have never gotten along and now it's even worse. Any suggestions?
— John, Ocala, FL |
| A: | Not everyone is suited to caregiving. Take an honest appraisal of your capabilities. What can you handle physically, emotionally, and mentally? An impulsive choice to be a caregiver can lead to abuse of the care-receiver, nervous breakdowns, poor health, and fiscal fraud. It is imperative that each caregiver has a good emotional support system.
Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for sources of extra help. |
Durable Medical Equipment
| Q: | I am new to caregiving. What is considered Durable Medical Equipment?
— Rira, Paducah, KY |
| A: | Durable medical equipment (DME) is equipment primarily used to serve a medical purpose, can withstand repeated use, and is appropriate for use in the home.
Some examples of DME include hospital beds, walkers, wheel chairs, and oxygen tents. Medical supplies of an expendable nature, such as bandages, rubber gloves and irrigating kits are not considered by Medicare to be DME. Some local groups may allow you to borrow equipment for short term use. |
Durable Power of Attorney
| Q: | Do I need a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care if I already have a Living Will?
— Wanda, Brooklyn, NY |
| A: | Yes. A Living Will pertains to artificial life support and is not implemented until a physician decides the individual is terminal. Basically, a Living Will is a document that allows you to decide whether or not to be kept on artificial life support. Living Wills are limited in the range of treatment decisions they permit. Living Wills do not apply in emergency situations. For example, many serious events such as strokes, Alzheimer's disease or comas, are not considered terminal diseases by many doctors, and therefore, may not be covered by Living Wills. State laws vary concerning Living Wills. Laws in some states are stricter than others about when a Living Will can be used. |
Medical Proxy
| Q: | What is the difference between a medical proxy and a health care agent?
— Leigh, Port Huron, MI |
| A: | A health care agent is someone the individual has selected. A medical proxy is chosen by agreement of a family, or close friend. A medical proxy should be someone who has a close relationship with the patient and who knows that person's medical wishes.
If family and friends cannot decide who medical proxy should be, or if they disagree with a proxy's decision, they can object and petition the court to request guardianship. This is a good reason everyone should have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care, so your advocate is already designated. |
Generically Equivalent Drugs
| Q: | What are generically equivalent drugs?
— Michele, Dayton, OH |
| A: | Several drug companies might manufacture a drug with the same chemical composition but a different name. These products are generically equivalent. |
Patient Advocate
| Q: | When can a patient advocate act in my behalf?
— Pat, Grand Blanc, MI |
| A: | The patient advocate can make decisions for you only when you are unable to participate in medical treatment decisions. |
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