Caregiver’s Vacation Care Plan

When I was taking care of my godsister, Gladys, I went to the Bahamas with some girlfriends. My husband was going to be at home but he was still working at the time.  To ensure that Gladys’ routine didn’t change and she had adequate care while I was away, I made a care plan and hired Visiting Angels to take care of her while Fred was at work.  Fortunately, Gladys had great insurance through the state of Pennsylvania – her insurance covered part of the cost.  The following information is what I gave the CNA who took care of Gladys. Because Gladys had Alzheimer’s, the notes are very specific.

Gladys’ Care Plan

Mornings (Mondays, Saturdays, Sundays)

Gladys doesn’t attend Adult Day care on these days so her schedule is slightly different.  We usually let her sleep or stay in bed later, but we try to get her up no later than 9:00 AM.

Morning Routine (Tuesday – Friday)

Shower

• Gather clothing for shower (disposable briefs, undershirt, blouse, socks)
• Get Gladys up between 7:15 and 7:30
• Remove disposable briefs and put them in the trash can near the garage door. If they are very wet, tie them 0up in a plastic grocery bag, then put in trash
• Tell her to use the toilet
• While she is using the toilet, let shower run so water can get warm. The temperature is already set.
• Check the rail in the shower stall to be sure it is secure
• Gladys’ shower cap is on the glass shelf next to the toilet
• Tell Gladys to walk into the shower, when she gets in tell her to turn (until she faces the, rail then tell her to hold on to the rail)
• Remove the walker
• There should be an old towel folded on the floor next to the toilet, unfurl it along the side of the shower (the floor gets a little wet). If there is no towel, ask Fred for one from the laundry room.
• After she is dried off put on the clothes mentioned above (Gladys has no cartilage so lifting her arms is painful)
• There is body oil on the bathroom shelf
• When Gladys is dressed after her shower, put some mouthwash in a paper cup, place the paper cup on the sink (front right corner) and tell her to rinse out her mouth and put her teeth in.

Breakfast

• Fred will fix Gladys’ breakfast and administer her morning medicine
• Gladys eats very slowly but she will finish her meal
• Please watch her with her water, Gladys is very crafty and creative in finding ways to not drink her water
• After she eats breakfast, Gladys will go to the bathroom. She will need help pulling her underpants down and back up.
• Put on her pants and shoes after she comes from the bathroom
• Her hair brush is in the top drawer of the night stand next to the bed

Daytime Activity

Gladys likes to watch television and listen to gospel CDs.  If you play the gospel CDs, she will cry – just give her some tissue.  She’s not sad.  If you would like to take her for a walk through the subdivision, her wheel chair is in the garage.  She can walk to the garage with her walker but will need assistance getting down the one step to the garage.

Lunch & Dinner

Fred will prepare Gladys’ lunch and dinner.  We use the TV tray next to the TV to serve her meals.  Adult size bibs will be on the dresser or in the cabinet next to her bed.  If all of the bibs are dirty, there are white hand towels in the cabinet – we use a dentist clasp to hold it around her neck.

Sunday Dinner

Because we dine early on Sunday, I usually give Gladys a glass of Ensure with her medication around 5:30 or 6:00.

Medication

Administered with breakfast and dinner.  Medications should already be prepared, if not, they are in a pink hospital pan on top of the refrigerator.  Dosage is written on the medicine cap.  The medications in the zip lock bag are not given daily.  They are only used when necessary.  One is for extreme pain.

Bedtime

• Start to get Gladys ready for bed between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM. Her night shirts are in the second drawer on the right side of the dresser.
• Change her disposable briefs if necessary
• Have her use the toilet (she should sit there until she urinates)
• Make sure there is a reusable under pad on the bed
• Ask her to scoot over until she is in the middle of the bed, pull the covers up for her
• Pull the rails up on both sides of the bed (one rail is kept under the bed during the day)
• Get the plastic container on the sink and have Gladys put her teeth in it
• Soak the teeth in warm water and the denture cleaner
• The cat can sleep with her if she wants
• Raise the bed a little so she can watch TV
• Set the timer on the TV for 40 minutes

Bedside Cabinet

• Towels and wash cloths
• Disposable briefs
• Reusable bed pads
• Bibs
• Sheets and blankets
• Soap, paper towels, toilet tissue

Night Stand

• Comb and brush
• Hair grease (she will ask you to put Vaseline on her hair – don’t)
• Gait belt (bottom drawer)

Dresser

• Socks (top left)
• Disposable briefs (center)
• Gum, Bible, leg brace (top right)
• Night shirts and gowns (second left)
• Undershirts and camisoles (second right)
• Blouses (bottom right)
• Knock around pants (bottom left)

Portable Closet

• Slacks
• Sweaters
• Blouses
• Jackets

Walkers

• Short walker (used in the house)
• Tall walker used when we go out (check tall walker for notes from day care)
• Make sure tall walker always has 2 pair of disposable briefs

Cats

We have two cats – Cocoa and Lexie

Cocoa is our cat, she lives upstairs.  Lexie is Gladys’ cat, she lives downstairs.  There is a gate to separate the cats because Cocoa is very territorial and will fight Lexie.  Lexie is de-clawed so she thinks she can fight but she can’t.

• Neither cat is allowed outside
• Lexie is very affectionate and will rub against anyone in her vicinity
• Please feed Lexie in the mornings
• Lexie is very smart. If the gate is not pulled tight, she will open it and go upstairs.  She also knows how to open it and go back down stairs.  Please make sure the gate is closed tightly

Miscellaneous

• During the day, Gladys should use the bathroom rather than the bedside commode. It’s the only exercise she gets.
• Make sure she drinks her water
• Please make up her bed
• There are baby wipes, perineal wash and lotion on the dresser
• Check Gladys’ hands after a bowel movement, they may need to be cleaned
• I use bed pads in Gladys’ chair (if you put a disposable under pad in the chair, she will move it)
• Put disposable under pads on the full size bed and the chair next to it to keep the cat off

Storage Room Across from Bathroom

• Extra baby wipes on the shelf
• Disposable under pads on shelf
• Refrigerator
• Ensure
• Glucosamine drink (for dinner)
• Apple juice
• Fruit cups