Resources for Caregivers

Caregivers spend their days and nights providing assistance to loved ones. Given all they’re responsible for, these individuals deserve a helping hand themselves! If you’re a caregiver, you know what your capabilities are. Perhaps you’re excellent with addressing someone’s physical needs but you’re not so great with their finances. This is just one example where you may need to turn to someone else for help. Here are some resources for caregivers that can make providing for your loved one easier:

Elder law attorneys

As a person approaches their end of life, it’s important to make sure that he or she has the necessary affairs in order. This includes what is to become of their belongings and home and who is responsible for their finances. According to AARP, an elder law attorney provides legal assistance to help people create wills and handle residential planning, retirement and health care decisions. Unless you have a background in law and are confident in assisting your loved one in this manner, turn to an elder law attorney to address these topics. These professionals can provide guidance in selecting who has power of attorney to handle finances and health care issues in the event that the senior is unable to care for him or herself. Sometimes it is best to let professionals handle this type of responsibility as it eases your mind and cuts down on your workload. Family matters like this can sometimes get tricky and emotional, so it’s OK to leave it up to a lawyer and the individual whose estate and well-being are involved.

Applications

Most caregivers aren’t able to devote all their time to helping their loved one. They tend to have jobs, families and commitments of their own on top of their caregiving. To keep track of everyone’s schedules, including your own, turn to applications. CareZone is a free iOS and Android app that provides a secure place to store information about the person you are caring for. On the app you can track information like what prescriptions the person is taking, dates and times of doctors appointments and contact information. You can also connect with other people who care for the senior and share a task list (like pay bills, refill prescription, call the doctor) and a journal to pass along observations. RX Personal Caregiver is a free app that offers useful information for caregivers who are managing multiple medications. Users can scroll through drug databases with data on over 17,000 medications to learn about their uses, interactions and side effects. You can note which medicines your loved one is taking and include notification alarms so you don’t forget a dose. This app even has a unique feature that notes your loved one’s prescriptions and will remind you to refill a medicine before they run out.