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Guaranteed to SAVE you a lot of TIME, EFFORT and MONEY.
Did I mention money? In my personal experience I am amazed at how much prices vary on products and services in this industry. Unfortunately there is no one out there that will warn you, no one to tell you where the best deals are, no one to tell you when there’s another way or better product, or better yet how you can get the same thing for free.
Here are some topics we will cover in just the first few issues:-
Adult Day Care for LESS than HALF of what others are paying.
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SIMPLE easy to do activities that can preserve your loved one's memory as much as those expensive medications.
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How to SAVE hundreds on Aricept, Namenda and other “Alzheimer” drugs.
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A little known VA benefit that can add over $1,200 to your income: we give you step by step instructions on how to COLLECT.
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How to get an expensive new phone with large buttons for the visually impaired for absolutely NOTHING.
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A surprising little secret to get Medicare and Medicaid to pay for everything from electric scooters to expensive memory foam beds that cost thousands of dollars. Free with no strings attached.
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Hiring help in the home? Avoid the revolving door of strangers in your home. We will give you a comprehensive checklist; from interview questions to background checks.
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THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS that assisted living communities DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW. We will give you a checklist written by an assisted living administrator.
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The biggest scam in Senior Care: Home health agency pitfalls to avoid and SAVE you THOUSANDS!
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Not all dementias are equal: Learn the difference between Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, Lewy Body, and Parkinson’s.
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Dementia is reversible! That’s right, many causes of dementia are reversible, find out which ones, and how to tell if your parent or spouse has one.
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Wandering and Aggressive behavior can be reversible, we tell you how.
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Three of the most common misdiagnosed illnesses and how to spot them yourself.
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Eight surefire tips to make bathing and showering infinitely easier.
Caregiver Self-Assessment Questionnaire
HOW ARE YOU?
Caregivers are often so concerned with caring for their relative’s needs that they lose sight of their own well-being. Please take just a moment to answer the following questions. Once you have answered the questions, scroll down the page to do a self-evaluation.
Answer the following questions yes or no.
During the past week or so, I have ...
1. Had trouble keeping my mind on what I was doing?
2. Felt that I couldn’t leave my relative alone?
3. Had difficulty making decisions?
4. Felt completely overwhelmed?
5. Felt useful and needed?
6. Felt lonely?
7. Been upset that my relative has changed so much from his/her former self?
8. Felt a loss of privacy and/or personal time?
9. Been edgy or irritable?
10. Had sleep disturbed because of caring for my relative?
11. Had a cry spell(s)
12. Felt strained between work and family responsibilities?
13. Had back pain?
14. Felt ill (headaches, stomach problems or common cold)?
15. Been satisfied with the support my family has given me?
16. Found my relatives living situation to be inconvenient or a barrier to care?
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “not stressful” to 10 being “extremely stressful”
Please rate your current level of stress
On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being “very healthy” to 10 being “very ill”
Please rate your current health compared to what it was this time last year
Self-evaluation
To determine the score
1. Reverse score questions 5 and 15.
(For example, a “No” response should be counted as “Yes” and a “Yes” response should be counted as “No.”)
2. Total the number of “yes” responses.
To interpret the score
Chances are that you are experiencing a high degree of distress:
• If you answered “Yes” to either or both questions 4 and 11; or
• If your total “Yes” score = 10 or more; or
• If your score on question 17 is 6 or higher; or
• If your score on question 18 is 6 or higher
Next steps
• Consider seeing a doctor for a check-up for yourself
• Consider having some relief from caregiving
(Use the techniques covered on this website, or download a stress management track)
• Consider joining a support group
(Call your local Alzheimer's Association for a list of approved groups)
* This quiz has appears in many places, but probably originates with the Alzheimer's Association
