50+ Lifestyles

November is National Caregiver Month

By Peggy Dykes
Community Relations Director
Milestone’s Area Agency on Aging

November is National Family Caregiver Month, and Milestones Area Agency on Aging would like to recognize and thank the individuals and families who are providing care for their relatives and friends. Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter said, “There are only four kinds of people in this world – those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, and those who will be caregivers and those who need caregivers.”

We will all fall into one of these categories. There is no better way to celebrate and acknowledge the people who are supporting their loved ones than by helping each other during this journey. Here are some useful tips and recommendations from the National Institute on Aging.

• Help each other organize paperwork. The person requiring the care might be somewhat resistant at first, but certain information must be accessible in case of an emergency.
• Start a medical file. Write down social security numbers and make copies of all health insurance cards. Collect names and numbers of all doctors, specialists, and pharmacists along with a list of all medications and dosing instructions. Write down a complete medical history with major illnesses, operations, and hospitalizations.
• Find out everything you can about the health issues of the person you are caring for along with current and future care needs to include prescribed medical care, required therapies and the progression of the illness.
• Get the appropriate legal documents and permissions needed to discuss health information, make health-care decisions, and handle financial matters. These may include a living will or durable power of attorney. It may come in handy later if these documents are readily available before you need them.

If you need some one-on-one caregiver support your local area agency on aging can provide information and referrals. In Iowa call Milestones (855) 410-6222 or in Illinois, call Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging 800-322-1051

Peggy Dykes is Community Relations Director at Milestones Area Agency on Aging. She can be reached at (563) 484-3147, ext. 212 or at pdykes@milestones aaa.org.