Elder Caring Review (Part 2)

How well does your parent do the following Daily Living tasks?

Transportation

a.	independent
b.	needs supervision or a little help (needs occasional redirection)
c.	needs a moderate amount of help (gets lost without escort)
d.	needs someone to do it for them (cannot function outside own home)

Buying Groceries

a.	independent
b.	needs supervision or a little help
c.	needs a moderate amount of help (makes inappropriate choices)
d.	needs someone to do it for them

Managing Money

a.	independent
b.	needs supervision or a little help
c.	needs a moderate amount of help (organizing/balancing checkbook)
d.	needs someone to do it for them (bill collection from nonpayment)

Housework/Home Maintenance

a.	independent (or can hire and pay a service if needed)
b.	needs supervision or a little help with heavy chores
c.	needs a moderate amount of help (every 1-2 weeks)
d.	needs someone to do it for them

Managing Medical Issues (medications and doctor’s appointments)

a.	independent
b.	needs supervision or a little help (reminders)
c.	needs a moderate amount of help (set up medications, take to doctor)
d.	needs someone to do it for them

If your answers are mostly a’s and a few b’s, your parent is mostly independent but will probably need more help as time passes. You or other family members are able to help from time to time but it is not a major focus of your attention.

If your answers are b’s with a few c’s, you are probably spending enough time helping your parent that the help you provide is beginning to interfere with work or family responsibilities. Many times we hear caregiving adult children complain about being overextended. You are now spending the time equivalent of a part time job providing parent care.

If your answers are mostly c’s and d’s, and you are still trying to do everything yourself, you need someone to help you – NOW! You are spending enough time caring for your parent that you now have TWO full time jobs, your regular employment and your parent care responsibilities. You are spread too thin to be effective.

Click here to move on to Section III, Emotional & Mental Functioning

| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

This page information may be used on other web sites only with permission from our site.
Click here to make a request.