August 4, 2000
Information On Document Lists You 
Will Need As A Caregiver
By: Gail R Mitchell

As a caregiver of a spouse or a parent, 
it is important to make sure you have 
important information stored in a safe 
place. For the next several weeks we 
will include lists for you to print out. 
These lists will provide research that 
you will need to take action with so 
that your caregiving role will be easier. 
If you have professional assistance or 
a Hospice, this information will be of 
great value in many ways for them to 
learn more about your loved one. You 
will be able to print out each list so 
you may create a notebook which will 
contain all the information you need to 
know about your loved one. This is 
especially helpful if you are a long 
distance caregiver. However, it is 
equally important to be knowledgeable 
about all the information you will need 
to know.

Types of Checklists:
·Action Plan For Caregivers
·Checklist For Families Providing 
 Basic Needs
·Deciding How and When to Step 
 In
·Providing Basic Needs
·Medical History List Which Includes  
 Medications
·Personal Documents
·Your Loved One's Preferences
·Emergency Documents
·Hiring Care on Your Own
·Providing Basic Needs
·Incontinence
·Evaluating Care Options
·Medication Do's and Don'ts
·Proper Lifting Techniques
·Taking Away The Keys - Providing  
 Basic Needs
·Adapting to New Living Arrangements 
 - Providing Basic Needs
·Financial Payment Sources and  
 Housing Needs Assessment
·Home Care Services
·Home Safety: Preparing the home
·Nursing Home Assessment
·Funeral Planning


A Caregiver's Action Plan:
By setting up a plan of action, your 
role as a caregiver will run smoother. 
You will be able to take control of your 
life while caring for your loved one.  
Remember that by taking action, you 
have begun taking responsibility for 
your own personal well-being. This is 
the most important factor in remaining 
balanced so you can care for your loved 
one with more love and effectiveness.

The following is a checklist that you 
may choose to follow. You may find 
only some suggestions useful. You 
may also add ideas that come to 
mind as you read through them.

·I will seek all the help I can find.
·I will allow my family to help.
·I will involve my family in decisions.
·I will share the burdens of 
 caregiving with others, especially 
 other caregivers.
·I will research all aspects of their 
 illnesses, the courses of action 
 and will remain well informed. I 
 will allow a sufficient amount of 
 time to do the research properly. 
 I will check out as many options 
 as I am able to do. I will research 
 all costs involved and who pays 
 for it.
·I will set short and long term 
 goals for my carerecipient and 
 myself. I will learn what I need 
 to do and the reasons for doing it.
·I will write everything down in an 
 organized manner. This includes 
 dating all my notes, records, goals, 
 ideas, phone numbers, questions, 
 answers, promises, appointments, 
 chores, and decisions. I will keep 
 them in a planner or in one location 
 so I will know where everything is 
 when I need it.
·I will work at understanding the 
 emotions I will go through such as: 
 confusion, anger, guilt, hurt, anxiety, 
 depression, fear, etc, knowing fully 
 that these feelings are all part and 
 parcel for the role of caregiver.
·I will stop trying to be perfect and 
 in control of everything. I will be 
 realistic about what I can and can't 
 do. I will be assertive and set 
 boundaries when necessary.
·I will be prepared for the unexpected 
 as well as the expected. I will remember 
 the only guarantee in life is that there 
 are no guarantees.
·I will take care of my emotional, 
 mental,  physical and spiritual needs.
·I will remain in contact with the 
 outside world.
·I will plan for the future to the 
 best of my capabilities with the 
 given situation at hand.
·I will work at learning better tools 
 to communicate with the person I 
 am caring for, even if communication 
 becomes difficult.
·I will recognize and admit when I 
 am in denial.
·I will define my objectives into one 
 concise statement when it comes 
 to decision-making and problem 
 solving.
·I will list all constraints such as 
 time, money, etc. that come up in 
 my role as a caregiver. I will list all 
 possible solutions by evaluating their 
 pluses and minuses.
·I will do whatever is necessary to 
 find the proper care for my 
 carerecipient so that they receive 
 the right care and the proper quality 
 of life they deserve.
·I will recognize when I am burning 
 out and get the professional help 
 I need.
·I will remain clear, focused, and 
 loving, as I commit to doing my 
 best to serve my loved one with 
 compassion and understanding.

This Caregiver's Action plan, as you 
can see encompasses the majority 
of issues you will encounter as a 
caregiver. Again, work with the list 
as you see fit.  Make the choice to 
fulfill your role as best as you can 
with love and care.

Other Pertinent Articles:

For New Caregivers  

Caregiver’s Bill Of Rights

Getting Comfortable As A 
Caregiver In Your New Role 

Richest Blessings,
Gail


We look forward to the opportunity 
of serving you. We welcome your 
comments, suggestions, and questions. 
Please feel free to contact us at: 
mailto:boomersint@aol.com or 
mailto:grm4love@care-givers.com







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