A Caregiver Duty Checklist, also known as a Home Health Aide duties checklist, lists all the services your loved one needs on a regular basis. Preparing in advance for the daily challenges of caregiving is important for making each day a success for both the caregiver and the care recipient.
When creating your own caregiver daily checklist, make sure it includes recommendations from the care recipient’s medical team. Use the following to create a list appropriate for your situation.
Personal Care
- Bed bath, sponge bath, tub or shower bath
- Comb hair
- Brush teeth
- Help with getting dressed
- Additional Grooming as needed:
- Wash hair
- Shave
- Nail care
- Apply skin lotion
Medical Care
- Check vital signs
- Schedule medical appointments and physical exams
- Remind to take medications
- Pick up prescriptions
- Check blood sugar and pressure
- Heat sensitivity (prepare cooling scarves, washcloths, cold packs etc.)
Nutrition Needs
- Prepare meals
- Shop for groceries
- Help with feeding
- Encourage fluids/Restrict fluids
- Shop for and remind to take vitamins
- Organize pantry & fridge and ensure accessibility
Toileting
- Assist with going to bathroom
- Assist to bedpan/urinal
- Incontinence Care
- Empty urinary drainage/catheter bag
- Empty colostomy bag
- Incontinence (prepare underwear, feminine pads, absorbent sheets, extra clothes, towels etc.)
Mobility
- Assist with walking (for ambulatory care recipients)
- Turn position in bed (for bedridden care recipients)
- Transfer/Bed/Chair (for wheelchair-bound care recipients)
- Assist with home exercises and/or Physical Therapy exercises
Companionship
- Take for a walk
- Accompany to appointments
- Coordinate community outings
- Read aloud
- Watch videos
- Play games
- Provide transport
Household/Support Services
- Wash laundry
- Clean kitchen
- Take out the trash
- Adjust room temperature
- Clean bathroom
- Clean bedroom
- Check for oxygen on/off
- Vacuum/dust living area
- Make bed/change sheets
- Pick up mail
- Pay the bills
Monitor / Log Daily Changes
Notice, and record, and fatigue, mood, heat sensitivity symptoms and adjust plans accordingly
What To Consider When Building A Caregiver Checklist
Here are some things to consider that may shape the final caregiver duty checklist and help you cope with the challenges ahead.
- Learn about care recipient’s condition:
- Talk to their healthcare providers about specific care needs.
- Get more health information from sources such as medical books and credible websites.
- Ask about any special caregiving skills you may need to learn and develop.
- Explore Caregiving Options
- Write down all of patient’s specific needs regarding meals, laundry, shopping, bathing, etc.
- Find out how to meet those needs by discussing them with the care recipient, family members, or healthcare providers.
- For instructions on how to do this, see “How to Ask for Help“
- Plan for immediate care:
- Ask the care recipient about their immediate care wishes and involve them in decision making.
- Adjust their living space for wheelchairs, walkers, and other special need elements.
- Devise a strategy for tracking their healthcare needs, like keeping a log of their eating patterns or medication taking.
- Organize important information:
- Write down the names, addresses and phone numbers of care recipient’s doctors, medical names of their illnesses, prescription names and doses.
- Organize their financial information like bills, bank accounts and insurance policies.
- Photocopy their social security numbers, insurance cards and other important personal information.
- Plan for emergencies:
- Make sure there is an emergency plan in case something happens to the primary caregiver.
- Plan for the future:
- Get informed on the care recipient’s long-term prognosis to better plan for their care.
- Assess finances by talking to an advisor who understands financial issues of caregiving.
- Talk to an attorney about legal document needed, including health care proxies.
- Consider hiring a Certified Senior Advisor or geriatric care manager to organize family meetings and define care expectations.
Source: https://www.doforms.com/caregiver-daily-checklist/ and personal experience.
We hope this information is helpful to you in the important work you do as a family caregiver.
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