Handouts index

Most recent at the top.

Sadness and suicide
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Listening when a loved one is sad
  • Sadness versus depression
  • Suicide and older adults

Late-life stepfamilies
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • If Dad wants to remarry
  • Caring with a stepparent
  • Caring for a stepparent

When medicines change
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Keeping track of changes
  • Too many pills
  • Safe disposal of medicines

Setting up a medication system
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Is Mom taking her meds "as directed"?
  • Finding the right solution
  • Pillbox 2.0

Frequent hospitalizations
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Creating an Emergency Room "go bag"
  • What is "observation status"?
  • Making medical decisions in a crisis

Chronic inflammation
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Anti-inflammatory strategies
  • Signs and testing

Moving to memory care
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Is it time for memory care?
  • Moving day
  • Adjusting to memory care

Making wise decisions
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Decisions without regret
  • Cooling down to make a decision
  • Avoiding decision fatigue

Dementia travel
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Is travel realistic?
  • Packing for the trip
  • Navigating the airport

Funeral planning
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Funeral logistics
  • An affordable, meaningful funeral
  • Your loved one's wishes

Skilled nursing facilities
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Making the transition to "rehab"
  • Who is who?
  • The care plan and meeting

Getting help to pay for care
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • What is a "Medicaid spend down"?
  • Is a reverse mortgage appropriate?
  • Using long-term care insurance

Home modifications for vision loss
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Low-vision kitchen
  • Low-vision bathroom

Difficult Family Relationships
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • When you feel more resentment than love
  • Dealing with criticism
  • When mom is outright mean

Preserving the relationship with the person you care for
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Visits: More than just business
  • "I can't get Dad to budge!"
  • Setting limits: Saying “no” nicely

Family Caregiving 101
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Financial/legal aspects of caregiving
  • Pacing yourself

Family Caregiver Factsheet
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • We Honor Family Caregivers

Bladder Issues
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The overactive bladder
  • Is twice a night too much?
  • BPH: Weighing surgical options

Family dynamics
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Calling a family meeting
  • Are you the primary caregiver?
  • If you are not the primary caregiver

Grief, loss and bereavement
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Emotions when caregiving ends
  • Reentry
  • Healing power of remembrance

Caregiving through cancer treatment
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Side effects of treatment
  • "Chemobrain"
  • Reducing the nausea of chemo

Gifts for older adults
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • For those with memory loss
  • For the socially isolated

Is your loved one prepared for a disaster?
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Making a plan
  • The "Go Bag"
  • The "Stay Box"

The losses of caregiving
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Acknowledging your losses
  • Overcoming sadness
  • Journaling with care

Should Dad still be driving?
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Help Mom be a safer driver
  • Alternatives to driving

Suppose they don’t get better…
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Transitioning from curative care
  • Writing the last chapter

Caregiving Holiday Blues
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Coping with the holiday blues
  • Addressing your losses
  • Supporting others in grief

When death is near
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • How you can help
  • Immediately after a death

Kidney Disease and Dialysis
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The decision to start dialysis
  • Medical management without dialysis
  • The decision to stop dialysis

Services for care at home
Facebook Campaign, Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Private pay (out of pocket)
  • Community programs
  • Services paid for by Medicare

Car tips for family caregivers
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Wheelchairs and your car
  • Car gadgets and tips
  • The caregiver-friendly car

Is your loved one depressed?
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • When depression goes untreated
  • Treating depression

Once your loved one has died
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Waves of emotions
  • What to do after a death
  • Eventual reentry

When you know a move is needed
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Moving sooner is better than later
  • What to do with their stuff?
  • Look ahead when downsizing

Low vision and vision loss
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Emotions following the diagnosis
  • Slowing the progression of glaucoma
  • Age-related macular degeneration

When staying at home isn’t an option
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • When should you choose a skilled nursing facility?
  • What is "assisted living"?
  • What is a memory unit?

Living with Arthritis
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Supporting a loved one with arthritis
  • Managing arthritis pain
  • Motion is lotion

Worried Dad might have dementia?
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Consider MCI (mild cognitive impairment)
  • Talking about brain health
  • What's in an Alzheimer's test?

Dementia and communication
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Listening
  • Speaking
  • Repetitive questions

Living with Parkinson’s Disease
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Dietary tips to ease common problems
  • Fighting Parkinson's with exercise
  • Communication challenges

After a stroke: Movement and coordination
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Emotions following a stroke
  • When therapy is a workout
  • What is an occupational therapist?

After a stroke: Problems with speech and swallowing
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The emotional effects of a stroke
  • Communicating despite aphasia
  • What is a speech therapist?

Osteoporosis: Strengthen bones. Prevent falls.
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Signs of osteoporosis
  • Osteoporosis: What you can do
  • Addressing the risk of a fall

Common caregiving emotions: Worry, anger, negativity
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Curb your negative thinking
  • "Sometimes I feel furious!"
  • When worrying doesn't stop

Living with COPD
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Preventing flare-ups
  • COPD warning signs
  • Sing a song for COPD

Health care planning and the MOST
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The advance directive
  • Choosing a decision maker
  • If you are chosen
  • The MOST

Living with final-stage dementia
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Dad can't brush his teeth
  • Frequent infections
  • Hallucinations

When a loved one needs help
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • 10 warning signs
  • What help is needed?
  • Getting realistic. Creating a team.

Managing money
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • What you need to know
  • Tips and helpful tools
  • Starting the conversation

Caring from a distance
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Four long-distance strategies
  • Easing the disruption of travel
  • Visits: More than just business

Living with late-stage dementia
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Visits and meaningful activities
  • Music: The universal language
  • Nonverbal signs of pain

Staying positive
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Adding humor to caregiving
  • The habit of happiness
  • Focus on the rewards of caregiving

Avoiding burnout
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Stress or burnout?
  • Preventing burnout
  • Take a break: Options for respite

Wandering
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • How to discourage wandering
  • Preparing for a safe return
  • Engaging activities

Living with early-stage dementia
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Balancing safety and independence
  • Dementia and advance care planning
  • The ability to make decisions

Dementia: Difficult situations
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Embarrassing behaviors
  • Distraction techniques
  • "Lie to my mom?"

Independence: Staying mobile on your feet
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Start a safe walking routine
  • When Dad resists a walker
  • If Mom is afraid of falling again

Hospitalizations: Before you go
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Choosing a hospital? Look to the stars
  • Preparing for a hospital stay
  • If you are the "health care proxy"

Hospitalizations: During your stay
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Walking your way out of the hospital
  • Keeping a clear mind
  • Advocating for a good night's sleep

Hospitalizations: Coming home
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Making the transition
  • Medication review
  • The post-discharge appointment

Conquering guilt. Becoming resilient.
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The resilient family caregiver
  • Too much empathy?
  • Setting limits, nicely

Changing your mind about stress
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • When circumstances are beyond your control
  • Working smarter
  • Living with uncertainty

Health care planning
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • The advance directive
  • Choosing a decision maker
  • If you are chosen

Medication Concerns
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Drug Misuse
  • Managing Chronic Pain
  • Pain in Serious Illness

Living with Heart Failure
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Avoiding crises with heart failure
  • Addressing Fatigue
  • Reducing Salt

Preventing Colds and Flu
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Preparing ahead of time
  • It's flu season
  • Preventing pneumonia

Living with mid-stage dementia
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Avoiding the "War of the Wardrobe"
  • Mealtime and dementia
  • Bathing and dementia

Preventing falls
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Maintaining balance
  • A home safety review
  • Balance exercises

“I don’t need help!”
Family Caregiver Newsletter Handout

  • Cost and Control
  • Privacy and Pride