Think of yourself as a mother/father with a small child. The mother or father leads the child in the child’s activities throughout the day – feeding, potty training, play, safety. This concept can apply to caregiving as well. It is the responsibility of the caregiver to ensure that the patient is eating as well as possible, taking their medications, is clean, and stays safe.
Doing so may be taxing at times. The key is to take a few minutes, take deep breaths, and calm yourself. The patient may not be able to help being cranky. Redirect the patient to a new activity or room. Be as cheerful as possible. Think about the beauty of the day, of nature, the fact that you have a job, and that this person does not mean to be cranky.
Establish a rapport with the patient – come in each day cheerfully. Engage them in conversation, talk them through the next task, so he/she knows what to expect. Bribe them, if necessary.
I volunteer for Hospice. Last week, I was visiting my patient and feeding her dinner. The gentleman next to her refused to eat. The dietician eventually came over and reminded him he had promised her he would drink a milkshake for her. He nodded and she brought the milkshake. When he had finished about 2/3 of the shake, she came in a poured a few more ounces in it, reminding him that he had promised he would drink it. And drink it, he did. There is always a way to cajole or persuade the patient to do what you need them to do.
Common sense also applies to toileting. If the patient no longer makes it to the bathroom on his/her own, try using either pull-ups or a diaper kind of pull-up (easier to get on/off). Take the person to the bathroom every two hours, and ½ hour after meals. Doing so will ensure that accidents do not happen too often. Take extra clothes in the car, just in case.
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