Get Organized: Tools for Caregiving

Are Your Medications Putting You at Risk?

by Joe Woelfel, PhD

Did you know that adverse drug-related events in the Medicare population occur at a rate of approximately 5% per patient per year? Among seniors, there are more than 180,000 life-threatening or fatal adverse drug events yearly.1 Some of the reasons for these medication-related problems include: Polypharmacy (use of more than 4 to 5 medications) Poor adherence or not taking medications as they are prescribed Lack of understanding of medication use Multiple medical problems Inappropriate prescriptions Most of these tragic...Read the rest of this article »

Hoarding Solutions

by Margit Novack

Through Moving Solutions, I have had experience with numerous hoarding situations. Hoarding is a complex behavior, characterized by the acquisition of items and the failure to discard of them, to such an extent that they impact functioning and create a hazard. Sometimes hoarding may place the individual or others at risk. Hoarding is a private disorder. Many hoarders have not had anyone in their home for years. Spouses of hoarders, too embarrassed to invite people over, often become socially...Read the rest of this article »

Hospital Suitcase

by Gilbert Guide

The transition of going from a senior care facility or the home to a hospital doesn’t need to be stressful. Download Gilbert Guide’s Hospital Suitcase for a list of all the items to pack for a hospital stay. The file is in a pdf format. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader® if you do not have it installed on your computer. (Don’t worry; it’s free, safe and simple to use.)...Read the rest of this article »

Important Documents Checklist

by Gilbert Guide

What financial and legal documents do you and your elderly loved ones need? Download Gilbert Guide’s Important Docs Suitcase for a checklist of all the important paperwork you need. The file is in a pdf format. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader® if you do not have it installed on your computer. (Don’t worry; it’s free, safe and simple to use.)...Read the rest of this article »

Face Sheet: Patient Information At-a-Glance

by Gilbert Guide

A face sheet is used by physicians, caregivers and care managers so that an individual’s health and medical requirements along with personal preferences are listed in an easy-to-use format. Download Gilbert Guide’s Face Sheet. The file is in a pdf format. You will need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader® if you do not have it installed on your computer. (Don’t worry; it’s free, safe and simple to use.)...Read the rest of this article »