SNB at SDCC 2023 (3 of 3) last day (updated 7.26.23)

 While I wasn't able to attend Comic Con this year, I'm pleased to report that many of our friends and colleagues who were exhibiting were very happy with their sales. Most important of all -- the attendees were happy to be at the con, shopping the booths, and supporting the vendors. I also heard that the panels were packed. This is great news after a couple of tough years for everyone.

These pics of the booth are from the SNB Facebook page.

The photo below shows the SNB "endcap" facing out to the aisle and the aisle 5000 overhead banner to the upper left.

This is a fun book POV shot...

Thank you to everyone who stopped by. 

UPDATE 7.26.23 Thanks also to author/creator Elizabeth Watasin

 https://www.instagram.com/elizabethwatasin/?hl=en

for making her Patreon post on SDCC public. And to her patron "Miz Packrat" for sharing some awesome photos. This post is a wonderful overview of the scale of SDCC. And of course I pledged Elizabeth's Patreon as a "thank you" for making this important post public and shareable. She also gave permission for me to share it  here. Because online content is artWORK. Support what sustains you.

Here's the link for the Patreon post:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/sdcc-2023-smol-86615331?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=j

 Photo below by Miz Packrat, via Elizabeth Watasin..

Testimony of Karla Ortiz and others at 7.12.23 hearing on AI and IP

 On July 12, 2023 concept artist Karla Ortiz was among the experts offering tesitmony at this imporant Congressional hearing. The photos below are screen grabs from the video link of the hearing.

Here's an excerpt of Karla's testimony: 

“… My name is Karla Ortiz, a concept artist and illustrator based in San Francisco. You may not know my name, but you and your loved ones have almost certainly seen my work. My work has helped shape and create the worlds of blockbuster films including Marvel projects like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Loki, The Eternals, Black Panther, Avengers :Infinity War, and Doctor Strange. I have also submitted art and designs for video games such as Final Fantasy 16, and trading card games like Magic: the Gathering. I am passionate about my work as an artist. Thanks to my hard work, my passion for the arts, and the support of my community, my work has been internationally recognized, and my fine art has been presented in countless galleries both domestically and internationally. There are hundreds, maybe thousands, of concept artists and illustrators like me who work tirelessly to make the films, TV, video games, and other media that bring entertainment to millions of Americans every day.

I am no longer certain of my future as an artist—a new technology has emerged that represents an existential threat to our careers: generative artificial intelligence (“Generative AI”). Generative AI is unlike any tool that has come before, as it is a technology that uniquely consumes and exploits the innovation of others. As I will explain in more detail, Generative AI relies on data it ingests in order to train models and generate its output, and oftentimes, that training data is the work of creative people like myself, taken without our consent, without any credit, and without any compensation. Based on this training data, Generative AI is capable of generating facsimiles of creative people’s work, including my own. As a result, AI has grown rapidly—in 2022, research estimated the value of the global AI market at approximately $100 billion USD, and is expected to grow to nearly $2 trillion USD by 2030. No other tool has the potential to adversely affect the rights of artists and creators. No other tool solely relies on the works of others to generate imagery. Not Photoshop, not 3D, not the camera, nothing comes close to this technology. I should know, I’ve worked with almost all those tools. And even though artists and creatives are among the first American workers who are confronting the threat posed by AI on the job market, we are certainly not the last. Generative AI threatens the livelihoods of an untold number of Americans.

I am not fundamentally opposed to Generative AI. But AI needs to be fair, and ethical for everybody—and not only for the companies that make AI products. AI needs to be fair to the customers who use these products, and also for creative people like me who make the raw material that these AI materials depend upon. These systems depend entirely on the work of humans, especially creatives such as visual artists, writers and musicians. The most important thing I can tell you is something the AI companies would prefer to overlook: "artificial intelligence" is really just human intelligence, repackaged and made available in a high-tech package. These models are useless alone, and need to be trained on an immense amount of data, including the work of artists of all creative fields. This is because generative AI is not truly “intelligent”—a Generative AI model cannot create anything it has not already seen in its training data. And therein lies the problem—the companies that make AI products have decided to neither ask for permission nor ask for forgiveness. Rather than ask artists and creatives their consent to use their work to train their Generative AI models, AI companies have instead opted to ingest massive amounts of copyrighted and licensed data to use as training data without permission, without crediting the creators of the underlying work, and without any compensation…”

The text of her entire testimony can be seen via this link: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/2023-07-12_pm_-_testimony_-_ortiz.pdf

The video of the hearing can be viewed here: https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/artificial-intelligence-and-intellectual-property_part-ii-copyright

Thank you Karla for continuing to speak out on behalf the community. 

More links here on the blog on raising awareness about AI: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2022/10/karla-ortiz-raising-awareness-on-ai-art.html

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/07/your-guide-to-copyright-trademark-and.html

http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/07/indie-art-life-protecting-artist-rights.html

Art in Action! 

SNB at SDCC 2023 (2 of 3) -- the booth set up at 5012 (updated 7.26.23)

First full day at Comic Con! 7.20.23. These photos of the booth were shared on the SNB Facebook page.

The booth includes some highlights from the just arrived shipment of French books. Including the adaptation of Gone With The Wind with art by longtime SNB pal Pierre Alary. This book is part 1 of 2. I'll be doing a blog post just about this book soon. You can see the cover upper right in the photo below.

Here's a closer look at the Alary GWTW. There's a handful of copies at the SNB booth at SDCC. This book is now available at the SNB store and on the website: https://stuartngbooks.com/gone-with-the-wind-tome-1.html

This book was in the shrink wrapped pallets that just arrived. You can see the pallets in the post from 7.14.23.

More featured titles at the SNB booth..

Stuart reports the booth is already selling out of some of the items they brought to SDCC. But don't worry. If you're at SDCC and see something here you want, check with the booth staff. It's likely there are additional copies availabe at the store or via the SNB website. 

The SNB booth at SDCC highlights artists and colleagues as well as books. This year it's artist Pascal Campion https://www.pascalcampion.com/

and the ground-breaking team at Concept Art Assosciation. https://www.conceptartassociation.com/

Stuart has been exhibiting at Comic Con for over 20 years. He's been at this 5012 booth space near artists alley since the early 2000s. For many years, the SNB booth was a 50 foot long recreation of the SNB store experience -- we brought big metal grids and build them with shelves to display the books. Below are 3 photos of this past set-up from 2016.  http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2016/07/comic-con-2016-snb-booth.html

This grid and shelves set-up will look familiar to WonderCon attendees as the system is still used for the booth at that convention.

Comic Con itself has evolved over the decades. When we first started exhibiting you could still purchase attendee tickets the day of the show! And get hotel space a few weeks ahead. For the last several years -- Comic Con has exploded onto the pop culture radar. This means SDCC draws major studios, A-list stars, and film/TV previews. This brings fans in numbers that sell out the convention and fill up the hotels. This popularity for the event has made the logistics of exhibiting and attending more complicated... and expensive. Bringing 30 feet of books means less set-up and tear down time -- and less staff required to run the booth. This means Stuart can get out on the exhibit hall floor more himself -- meeting with colleagues and artist friends -- and discovering new ones. He is at the booth every day for several hours, so you can still find him there. The crew at the booth knows his schedule each day. SDCC continues to be a major event on the convention calendar year for everyone interested in illustration, animation and comic art -- as well as pop culture in general. 

Justine Bateman on AI. Also the AI "Watermelon Art" case study (updated 8.10.23)

 Actor, Director, Producer (and former SAG board member) Justine Bateman has a UCLA degree in computer science and digital media management as well as her industry credentials. She breaks down some of the artist concerns with AI in this July 2023 USA Today interview on You Tube.

And this twitter thread by her shared on social media.

UPDATE 8.10.23 Here is an Aug 2023 article by Bateman

https://www.thedailybeast.com/hollywood-ceos-greed-will-burn-the-movie-biz-down?fbclid=

excerpt: "The relationships with writers, directors, actors, and crew members. The streamers forgot that they’re visitors here, and soon after arriving, they “pivoted” and shucked the let-the-artists-have-full-creative-reign position with which they began. The studios then started chasing the streamers’ business model and lost billions of dollars doing it. And now, both the studios and the streamers think they can win against encroaching generative AI video tech companies—and I’m telling you these GAI companies are going to eat their lunch.

And they’ll do this primarily by feeding in 100 years of films and TV series into GAI models, in order to deliver spoonfuls of Frankenstein-like characters, tones, and stories. Everything from Alfred Hitchcock’s films to M*A*S*H episodes to Citizen Kane. I personally feel a very strong responsibility to these past writers, directors, actors, and crews. I owe them more than I could ever return. They have fed me emotionally, creatively, and professionally. Not only has much of this work been instrumental to my own filmmaking (Antonioni and Fellini, I’m looking at you), but it is because of these past professionals’ sacrifices that any of us have union benefits at all.

All of this greed and competition by the studios and streamers will crater this industry and will destroy a century-old business. And if that happens, these CEOs will go down in history as the ones who, when they had the football—passed down from decade to decade—not only lost the game, but they burned down the entire stadium."The degenerative slide of the film business took the following path: The studios forgot their own competitive advantage of having 

# # # 

AI "Watermelon Art" Case Study

We all need to be on the lookout for AI images as they are circulated online. For now, there are clues like excessive digits on hands of figures (or paws of animals) that betray AI use. These are details our human eyes recognize as "wonky." AI art as a tool is here to stay. It needs to be shared with transparency. Too often, AI images are posted without any credit/source... or there is an ambiguous attribution like for these recent images: 

They were shared as "carved watermelon art".. but called out in the comments threads by real artists who carve watermelons. When they asked for the name of the artist, there was no reply. The "watermelon rat" above has over 1 million views, 27 thousand comments, and 146 thousand shares on Facebook. Clearly it's a captivating image. But it's also adding to the confusion. Thousands of people "liked" these images and congratulated the artist on their work. But there are comments that also call out the use of AI. Real creative work has value. If you value it. Protect it.

When you see AI images on social media .... be proactive. Push for awareness. Protect creative rights. Here's a comment to adapt or use...

"This AI generated image was built from a dataset made possible by images stolen from artists and creators. Their work was used without permission, credit, or compensation. We all have a responsibility to be aware about what we share. Expect transparency about AI images. Be discerning. Not deceived. #SupportHumanArtists"

SNB at SDCC 2023 (1 of 3) -- getting ready

 Stuart will be exhibiting at SDCC -- booth 5012. With the actors on strike, there will be no in person appearance by them to promote films etc. These film panels have always been a big draw for attendees. Without these attractions.. perhaps this year more attendees will check out the many wonderful booths and tables at the exhibition hall, artists alley and small press. 

This is Stuart's photo of a recent pallet delivery of books..

Stuart's recent email newsletter including this milestone reminder...

"I turned 60 this week. And in April of this year, my stent turned 5!

“The hormone cortisol is released in response to stress. Studies suggest that the high levels of cortisol from long-term stress can increase blood cholesterol, triglycerides, blood sugar, and blood pressure. These are common risk factors for heart disease. This stress can also cause changes that promote the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries.”

It was plaque buildup that led in 2018 to a 95% blockage of the blood flow in my left anterior descending artery (LAD) which could have led to a massive heart attack.

I was lucky and we caught it before the widowmaker caught me!

It's a challenge, but be mindful, avoid stress, maintain good habits, and stay healthy."

Stuart's email newsletter also had his tribute to longtime friend and colleague Jim Vadeboncoeur Jr.

"My good friend and bookselling mentor Jim Vadeboncoeur Jr. passed away last week. He was known for his comic book scholarship, as a publisher—of fanzines, books, and the magazine Images—and as an illustration fan and historian. He was also the managing partner of Bud Plant Illustrated Books which is how I met him and got to know him, first as a customer, and then as a book scout, and he encouraged me in 1997 when I was considering becoming a bookseller full-time. He was quite a guy."

This Tripwire link has a tribut to Jim as well.

https://tripwiremagazine.co.uk/headlines/rip-comics-historian-and-art-dealer-jim-vadeboncoeur-jr/?fbclid=

Here are some photos of Jim from Jim's Facebook page.

Caregiving Top Tips (7.14.23)

                                       

("Golden Light" by Julia Rogers, 2021)

If you are charged with the care of an elderly person, here are three wishes for you. And a warning.

Focus on these attributes: courage, patience, and grace. These three wishes will grant you self-preservation. With courage, patience, and grace, you can be the caregiver you want to be, with whatever resources you may have.

And the warning. You will never have enough time, experience, and money for this job. Caregiving grinds down resources on all levels. You can’t help anyone if you are tapped out. Find ways to replenish your reservoirs.

------------------------------------------------------

These paragraphs are an update to the opening of my Sept 2022 “Top Tips” post. Writing that post was a chance to reflect on all I’d learned in my first year as a primary caregiver. My beloved Dad passed suddenly at the end of 2021. I quickly realized my wonderful Mom wasn’t safe living alone. Dad had been doing all the heavy lifting to keep them living independently in their condo. Now it was my turn. On the 1st year of our journey, I went from full-time sole caregiver, to being with her along with in-home caregivers. I lived with Mom for the first seven months while we sorted out many details. After that, she had overnight caregivers on 12-hour shifts. I was with her for the early morning and dinner-to-bedtime routines, with day shift caregivers in between. It was a steep learning curve.

With a lot of hard work from me, and pre-planning we did as a family, I was able to keep Mom in the condo for over a year. Looking ahead, I could see the situation wasn’t sustainable. Mom is in her late 90s. I'm lucky she is mobile, alert, cheerful and grateful. And I know she works at it. When I started caring for her, we decided as long as she could stay safe and stay healthy she could stay in the condo. By early 2023, I could see we were nearing the end of that phase. 

We transitioned Mom to assisted living. Again, we're lucky. Mom has the best of both worlds for now -- she spends all her evenings at assisted living. Due to her advanced age, she is safer when someone is with her most of the day. She has a private caregiver M-F during the day, which includes help with transportation to doctor appointments (and trips back to her condo). Mom sees me almost every day. And I get to visit with her more as her daughter and less as her care provider. She's at assisted living all day/night on Sat/Sun. I'm with her twice a day on weekends. The move to assisted living was a big transition. It prompted me to add some updates to the "Top Tips" 2022 post.

I had revised the post in Nov 2022. When I went to add some more updates in April 2023 -- I accidentally deleted the post. All that work and all those resources. Gone in a blip.

So if you have the old link for the Sept 2022 post w/ the Nov revisions, my apologies. That page doesn’t exist anymore. Thank goodness I had a backup of most of the text of the post and the links. April 2023 me owes a debt to Sept 2022 me for taking that precaution.

This Caregiving Top Tips 2.0 comes in three sections:

1)    TLDR – here are the links for the recommended equipment. Independent living means having the right tools for the job. Preventing falls and safety risks is the top priority.

2)    Three wishes and self-care reminders. This section covers caregiving options and the costs. There are emotional as well as financial burdens to caregiving. This section has tips to prepare for them, including links for some articles. I will also address some of the pros and cons of assisted living vs. in-home caregivers.

3)    Recommended equipment. This section has links, photos and my feedback/reviews from using these products.

Section 1 -- TDLR (Too Long, Didn’t Read). Links for essential equipment:

Mobility is independence. Independent living requires the right equipment.

Mobility Aids –

Walkers

Combination walker-transport Chair

This is my number one recommended item. It’s essential mobility gear for the elderly person as well as the caregiver. Pros and cons of this model in section 3

https://goplusus.com/products/2-in-1-folding-rollator-walker-4-wheel-medical-rolling-walker

 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LRYSVKR?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Here are links for the other mobility gear/walkers we got. Pros, cons, and photos in section 3 

Traditional 4-wheeled walker (Nova Zoom)

https://novajoy.com/products?categoryId=368

3-wheeled walker (Nova Traveler)

https://novajoy.com/products?categoryId=187&productId=382

Standing walker (ViveHealth Upright Walker)

https://www.vivehealth.com/collections/mobility-aids/products/upright-walker

Footed quad cane

https://www.vivehealth.com/products/carbon-fiber-quad-cane

Room safety --

Landline phone for hearing impaired

Never disconnect your landline! I was shocked to learn after Dad died that Mom couldn't use a cell phone on her own. Dad had disconnected their landline years before. So for the first few weeks after he passed away, there was NO WAY to reach mom on the phone when I wasn't at the condo. She couldn't even make a 911 call if I wasn't there. I was scrambling to get a landline phone installed. Even with the landline, Mom needed help to make or receive calls. If there’s no landline at the elderly persons residence, get one installed. A 911 call from a landline is the fastest way to get help to the right location. Check with local agencies about qualifying for a free or discounted landline phone for the hearing impaired.

Call Button (CallToU transmitter and receiver)

This is different than those "I've fallen and I can't get up" medical alert call buttons that connect seniors to a service that can summon help for them outside the home as well as inside. I don't have any experience with those since my Mom couldn't be left alone. My recommendations here are for in-home call buttons. 

Being able to use a caregiver-pager-type call button to summon help is an essential safety skill for in-home care and assisted living. Get one early. Get your loved one in the habit of using it to let someone else in the home know they are moving from room-to-room. It may seem silly at first, but this helps prevent falls. Using a call button consistently will help the transition to assisted living or in-home help from caregivers. Knowing to use a call button can help you and your loved ones get the most out of those additional caregiving expenses. 

https://www.amazon.com/CallToU-Caregiver-Transmitters-Receivers-Attention/dp/B077SYPD5K

A “Grabber” helps reach items on tall shelves or on the floor.

Grabber (The one I like best I got from Diaso – this link has photos and a review)

https://www.thestuffsreview.com/2022/07/daiso-all-purpose-grabber.html

Motion detector Night Lights

Nighttime trips to the bathroom are a high risk for falls. Nightlights in hallways and rooms can prevent this. Battery operated “tap lights” can also be handy.

Foot Care -- 

donate all the shoes w/ laces, they are a tripping hazard. Keep feet clean and moisturized. Cracks in dry skin on feet are a vulnerable area for infections.

Velcro shoes

Top pick for fit and sturdy enough for walking

Yibobay Diabetic Velcro closed-toe shoes

https://www.amazon.com/Yibobay-Diabetic-Adjustable-Breathable-Lightweight/dp/B096KVHJLT/ref=

 Silverts Sandals – open toed with Velcro. These are a sturdy option for times when toe pain may require an open-toed shoe option.

https://www.silverts.com/womens-easy-closure-sandal-for-indoors-outdoors

Collections Etc catalog Memory Foam Sandals

These are inexpensive, but lack support and are good as house slippers only

https://www.collectionsetc.com/products/ultra-lightweight-adjustable-memory-foam-sandals/?color=BLCK&size=XSA&utm_source=google&utm

Stretchy socks

Ankle length – available in black or white

“Hugh Ugoli Diabetic ankle socks, seamless, stretchy” socks from Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084Q61X8K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Viasox Diabetic Socks – these are super stretchy socks that are easy to get on and off. Available in knee length, ankle and compression sock options. There are lots of fun prints as well as solids. https://viasox.com/

Electric Foot Warmer Pad (cold feet are a common problem)

Mom’s favorite is the “Accelery Double-Sided Heated Foot Warmer” with a tag that reads: “OnKey Electric Technology Heating Pad Model # FT-1616,” now listed as “unavailable”

Here’s a similar one, but this lacks the zipper and timer on the control:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Electric-Foot-Warmer-Heating-Pad-with-3-Settings-Auto-Shut-Off-and-Detachable-Extra-Long-Cord-Soft-Plush-with-Fuzzy-Interior-by-Bluestone/711560582

 Bathroom Safety --- 

Do these upgrades early. Bathrooms are a high-risk area for falls etc.

Handles for the sides of the toilet

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Home-Care-23-25-in-Toilet-Safety-Bar-in-Glacier-DN7015/203933039?source=

 Shower Chair https://www.vivehealth.com/products/shower-chair

Toilet Seat Cushion (women need versions like this – more on that in section 3)

https://www.vivehealth.com/products/toilet-seat-cushion

Waterproof Mattress Protection No one likes to think about overnight accidents… but these can save a lot of grief. https://www.target.com/p/ultimate-mattress-protector-allerease/-/A-17273320

Gifts for caregivers --- "Let me know if you need anything" shows you want to support, but try to be specific. Check in on your way to the store to see if the caregiver needs anything. Offer to get take-out food. Meals and grocery store/drug store runs are always helpful, especially the first few weeks. Before you bring by flowers, plants etc .. please ASK first. While flowers are lovely.. they are also possible allergy issues... and one more thing to take care of in a caregiving situation that's already overwhelming. 

Section 2 -- Three wishes and self-care reminders

(art by Kate Allan, aka The Latest Kate https://www.thelatestkate.art/) 

Remember the three wishes for you. And the warning.

With courage, patience, and grace, you can be the caregiver you want to be, with whatever resources you may have.

This job grinds resources to exhaustion on all levels. You can’t help anyone if you are tapped out. Find ways to replenish your reservoirs. 

Caregiving in guidebooks covers generalities. Caregiving in action is deeply emotional and utterly unique. You may find great support from resources (websites; support groups) and from friends/family members who have been on a similar path. However, becoming a caregiver is a learning curve for a skill set you will be improvising as you go. The responsibilities are relentless (even if you can delegate some of them). You will want this job to end, and it will, but the exit options are all awful.

Be prepared. Years before you need to, have the difficult conversations about end of life wishes, use of extreme measures (or avoidance of them), finances and obligations, intentions for the dispersal of personal effects, and of the person.

Caregiving plan choices fall into three categories –

Co-residence with Family

Aging at home with private caregiver help

Assisted Living communities

Co-residence with Family

Many families have no choice. Parents or elders move in with family members to save money. There are emotional costs to this option that need to be considered as well. It is a huge ask of your caregiver for them to run your life and a second household, or leave their life and home to move in with you for an unknown period of time. I did this for 7 months. I adore my mom and was always very close to my parents.. but this arrangement was still hard. It gets even more complicated if family relations are strained. I have friends who did it for years – at the eventual cost of their previously close relationships with family members. Proceed with caution. 

Find and join support groups. Check with educational and medical institutions nearby. In Southern California, we are lucky to have the USC Family Caregiver Support Center. An excellent resource that will connect you with an individual "navigator." Your Navigator will guide you to help for your specific needs. They also have excellent listening skills and are a compassionate advocate for your care as the caregiver as well: https://www.fcsc.usc.edu/ The Los Angeles Caregiver Resource Center is also part of this organization: https://www.fcsc.usc.edu/

Here are some articles about the crushing costs – on all levels – for senior care:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/04/06/seniors-assisted-living-medicaid-eviction/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/parenting/2023/03/22/caregivers-sandwich-generation/

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/03/18/senior-care-costs-too-high/

 https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/05/end-of-life-planning/

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/magazine/elder-child-care-millennials.html

photo below "Randi and her father Keith..." by Haruka Sakaguchi from NY Times 3.23

This March 23 post on the blog contains the entire 3.18.23 Post article about the costs of care: http://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2023/03/caregiving-crushing-costs-and-limited.html

Aging at home with private caregiver help

Everyone wants to age at home, independently, for as long as possible. This is a wonderful dream, but not always a safe or practical reality. Aging at home when the home is not appropriate (stairs etc) can be dangerous. Accidents like falls in bathrooms or on stairways. Injuries in kitchens or yards. These can be life changers that lead to hospitalization and loss of mobility.

Aging at home with private caregivers is the most financially expensive choice. I highly recommend using a free service like “A Place for Mom” to get referrals for licensed caregiver agencies. They can match you with options that fit your budget. Another plus for using “A Place for Mom” is that you will get enrolled in a free email newsletter with lots of tips from others who are caring for family members.

A caregiver agency will handle insurance, employment, and liability issues with having workers in your home. Agencies also screen the caregivers for you and provide professional training for them. It takes time to pick an agency, go through the evaluation process to assess your loved ones needs, and get matched with and “try-out” some candidates. Once you have the right caregivers on a schedule (that you are in charge of creating), there are pros and cons to this situation. If a caregiver can’t make their shift, or needs a scheduled day off, the agency will usually be able to send a replacement. But you will need to spend time orienting the replacement with your loved-one’s needs. Many caregivers like a client that offers long shifts on a steady schedule. The overtime hours help with their income, but this also adds to your expenses. Aging at home with private caregivers can become socially isolating for your loved one. Having your loved one with caregivers means you are their social director, appointment coordinator and always the back-up. This can be back-up for problems with your loved one, or their residence. That can get exhausting. It wasn’t until we transitioned Mom to assisted living that I realized the impact of this. For over a year, my radar was up every night for a possible call from Mom’s overnight caregiver. I rarely got a nightshift call. But once Mom was in assisted living, I started sleeping much better. At assisted living, there is always an experienced team around her to help her… or deal with any problems with her room. If I got a call from assisted living, it was just to inform me and let me lend support. It wasn’t a call to rush over and solve a problem.

Assisted Living Communities

Tour assisted living communities with your loved one. Get acquainted with options and staff prior to need of these services. Assisted living provides medication management, social enrichment, help with ADLs (activities of daily living) and room and board in a home-like setting. "Assisted living" implies some independence on the part of the resident. This includes being able to use a call button. (This safety tool is good to get early and use at home so it becomes a healthy habit.) The assisted living admissions process will include an assessment of your loved one's care level needs. 

Assisted living will meet your loved ones needs, but maybe on a slightly different schedule than you're used to. Be flexible. Learn the routines at the community and help your family member adapt. Good communication between you and the staff helps everyone. Your loved one will be issued a call button to summon care team help when they need assistance. Residents who are more independent and don't need call button help will still be checked-in on periodically. The goal is to strike a safe balance between independence and support. Do not expect assisted living to replicate the one-on-one care of your loved one at home with you… or them at their house with an in-home caregiver. Some assisted living establishments will allow you to bring in a licensed private caregiver to give your loved one more one-on-one support -- but that expense will be on you. 

Assisted living gives loved ones a safe, supportive environment. The 24/7 care from a staff of professionals gives family caregivers peace of mind. But it doesn't relieve the responsibilty of checking in frequently. In-person visits can rekindle family connections, which may be strained after being in caregiving roles. Visit as often as you can. Being there in person is the best way to assess how your loved one is adapting, and how the facility and staff are performing. Common struggles for assisted living communities include chronic understaffing and delays in response time for call button assistance. You can best assess how these issues are handled when you visit frequently. Once your loved one is a resident, you will still need advocate for them. This includes monitoring basics in your loved one's room, such as making sure the plumbing, heating and AC are in good working order.

Find a community with a vibe that resonates with you as well as your loved one. Caregiving is a calling. Cherish the good people who take care of others as a career. Benefits for your loved one at assisted living include more social contact with peers and younger adults, activities options, and hands-on personal care that can advance as needs change. Some assisted living establishments can provide two week or 30 day stays as “respite care” to give family caregivers a break. (However, many assisted living rooms come unfurnished, so factor in that added expense). Memory care units are part of many assisted living communities. This makes that transition easier for residents if that need arises. Most assisted living places do not offer skilled nursing care like a nursing home setting. Tour a range of elder care establishments to learn about these care levels and options.

Care homes, with only a handful of residents and a small team of caregivers in a private residence setting, can be a good option. Especially if the situation involves long-term care along with limited mobility. Many families turn to churches and community senior centers to get in touch with resources, activities, and volunteer or part time caregivers/companions. Unlicensed care may seem cost effective, but be mindful of the associated risks.

Long-term care insurance is a common way many families afford the prohibitive expenses of in-home caregivers and/or assisted living. However, there is always a big risk. You may pay the high premiums for years only to find out when you need the policy coverage it may not be accepted at the facility/agency you want.

 Caring for a senior with dementia... or disabilities... or a chronic or terminal condition (including Alzheimer’s) are categories I won’t be covering here.

Finding elder care that fits, and is affordable, is hard. It can mean making tough decisions. The options are all costly. They can bankrupt families.

Caregiving for an elderly parent as an only child has benefits and disadvantages. If you are the only person who knows all the details for caring for your family member, you must make sure there is either a back-up person, or you and your family member must consider their need to enter assisted living earlier. You are not immune to having an accident or illness that could put your loved ones care in jeopardy. Having your elderly friend/family member in a facility can be a safer option for them and you if you are their only advocate. Even in sibling situations, it’s usually one person tasked with being the “burden bearer” – a role that leads to burnout, resentment, and other complications for any caregiver. ("Burden bearer" is a term from a 1966 study of families struggling with elder care. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1545-5300.1966.00076.x. I first read about it in this 3.23 NY Times article https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/28/magazine/elder-child-care-millennials.html)

Caregiving for anyone when you have a chronic condition yourself adds more unstable variables to the equation. My Dad and I planned for various scenarios of how I would care for my parents in their final years  – but when the reality happened, I was quickly humbled by the one variable we never factored in – my own limitations. When family caregivers themselves are seniors 60+ and caring for elders in their 80s and 90s, the entire situation can seem like a sitcom premise. Because as Mom likes do say: "You have to laugh or else you'd cry and who wants to cry?" Or as iconic actress Bette Davis put it:

Before you agree to become a full-time caregiver….

Everyone must have their final documents in place -- a will or trust,  an Advanced Healthcare Directive. No exceptions. Never agree to become a caregiver for someone who hasn’t gotten their affairs in order. Even with all the paperwork ducks in a row, all the re-organization of accounts, bills, legal documents, and even mundane things like newspaper/magazine subscriptions, will devour your time. And drain cash reserves.

My two mottos learned the hard way from experience:

Get the right tool for the job.Whoever dies first, wins.

Encourage all family members to have most household bills set on auto pay via a regular checking account. Get signed up to have access to those accounts.  If your family has the resources to have 2-3 mos of cash to cover monthly expenses on hand, that will relieve you of a lot of stress if the “financial manager” parent passes suddenly and you are left to juggle bills, taxes etc for a parent who hasn’t dealt with these for decades. When someone passes, a lot of important information can be lost suddenly too. They don’t have to deal with the fallout of that. But their survivors will. Plan now to avoid pain later.

Know your parent/family member’s medical history, medications they are on, and try to go to a routine doctor appointment with them. Going on a routine appointment will give you a chance to meet their regular doctor, and familiarize you with location of the clinic etc. Elderly people go to the doctor a lot. There are age-related issues that come up even for those without pre-existing conditions. You will also need to be proactive about getting these routine health issues addressed for your senior: Foot care. Skin care. Hydration. Vision issues. Hearing issues/aids. Physical Therapy to keep major muscle groups strong for maintain balance and mobility.

Assess your elderly parent/family members mobility. Plan ahead for special equipment that will be needed – for their safety, and for yours. Evaluate the home for fall hazards. Avoid preventable accidents. Remove safety risks.

Adapt or replace furnishings. Older people need sturdy chairs with arms. Bathrooms need many safety upgrades.

Shop early and often for items that will protect your senior’s independence. They will need these items eventually. Better to try them out with plenty of time to find what works BEFORE the urgent need arises. Practice using them “for if we need this” scenarios. It will make everyone more comfortable, confident, and safe.

Section 3 -- Recommended Products:

Mobility Aids –

Mobility is independence. Loss of mobility means more hands-on caregiving. Fight hard to maintain and protect mobility. Embrace simple changes, like mobility aids, appropriate shoes, physical therapy exercises to keep muscles strong.

Walkers

Combo/convertible walker-transport chair.

I got this GoPlus model.

https://goplusus.com/products/2-in-1-folding-rollator-walker-4-wheel-medical-rolling-walker

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LRYSVKR?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 A transport chair is not a wheelchair. A transport chair has smaller wheels. It can’t be self-propelled. But a transport chair is essential safety equipment if you’re caregiving for someone who is elderly/and or has mobility issues. If you need to move them quickly and safely – you must have a transport chair available.

Get a combo/convertible walker-transport chair. This is best for trips to appointments and longer walks. The person can use as a walker, but if they get tired, it converts easily to a transport chair.

Top tip for transport chairs/wheelchairs: Back the person into elevators and over bumps and obstacles in pathways. Pushing the person forward into these hazards can “catch” the chair wheels and tip the elderly person forward and out of the chair! These chairs do NOT have seatbelts.

I looked at several brands and styles of combo walker-transport chairs.. Here’s why I picked the GoPlus one and how it delivers in these areas:

Pros --

It has the greatest range of adjustable height options for the handle bars used in both the walker and transport chair modes. Trying to match the right height for these bars has been a struggle on other walkers. This feature has been a game changer. It saves the back of the caregiver pushing when its in transport chair mode. It improves the posture and balance of person using it in walker mode, helping reduce that classic “hunched over the walker” posture.

The foot rests are pedal-shaped foot rests and that the foot rests can be folded away.

There is a foot lever in the back to help whoever is pushing it in transport chair mode get the wheels over small bumps/floor surface transitions. It takes some practice.

If you’re trying to get someone with limited mobility to appointment, or across parking lots/uneven terrain, or an emergency exit -- a mobility chair is a must.

Having one tool that does 2 jobs saves storage space.

This unit collapses down for easy storage and is pretty lightweight.

Cons –

The seat is an odd shape and there is NO padding. There’s no storage under the seat and storage/pouch situation with this unit is limited and awkward.

There is built-in padding for the arm rests, and that helps, but we did mail order some wrap around/Velcro arm rest pads and they are a big help

It’s larger and more awkward to use as a walker inside the home. But the fact that the handle heights are adjustable more than compensates.

The foot rests fold back fine, but flop around. I ended up buying some Velcro strips which we use to secure the foot rests. It’s an extra step.. and an extra item to make sure we have when we use this in transport chair mode. It’s an area I would check out well if I got to see some of these in person vs. buying online.

Wheelchair seat cushion https://www.amazon.com/Essential-Medical-Supply-Covered-Wheelchair/dp/B007X2EXIS/ref=

Wheelchair Armrest pads (this link has assorted colors) https://www.vivehealth.com/products/wheelchair-armrests

 

 

Traditional 4-wheeled walker (Nova Zoom)

https://novajoy.com/products?categoryId=368

 

Pros -- These are nimble, smaller, and come with a padded seat and generous storage. Wheeled walkers excel at turning and pivoting, and they also have brakes for stability. They are better than the old-school 2 wheeled walkers.

This walker gives the most support for when Mom has knee pain.

We went to a local home healthcare aids store to get Mom a 4-wheeled walker. They fit her for this model. (However, it’s turned out to be just a bit too short for her, even at the highest handle height setting.)

Cons – Only 3 settings for handle height. Not having the handles at the appropriate height contributes to that “hunched over the walker” posture you often see. 

Shop around and find a walker that has an appropriate handle height. Walkers work best in walker mode. You can use it to push someone in a pinch, but they will be facing backwards and they must be able to suspend their feet to keep out of your way and not be dragging their feet on the ground. Of course, a walker is not designed to be a transport chair. And this limitation is obvious if you ever try to use it as one.

Standing/Upright Walker –https://www.vivehealth.com/products/upright-walker

 

I got Mom one of these when we realized her 4-wheeled walker was too short for her. The upright walker has a seat (not padded), encourages better posture, and provides better eye contact with other pedestrians. It may be a good option for more active, taller seniors. I wouldn’t recommend one for most elderly people.

It’s cumbersome to move and store. It can collapse and be put in a car, but would take up a lot of space and be hard to get in and out.

It’s hard to find padding for the arm rests that fit properly. The arm rests and hard plastic and do need extra padding that’s not provided or built in.

Because Mom was in a condo, and got most of her exercise walking the hallway of the condo building, this worked out okay for us for several months. But we never used it on sidewalks or parking lots… where I’m not sure how safe/stable it would be on those sorts of surfaces.

3-wheeled walker (Nova Traveler) https://novajoy.com/products?categoryId=187&productId=382

 

Once Mom transitioned into assisted living, this walker became her favorite. I bought this one specifically because the handles can be set higher than her 4 wheel walker. She likes that this one is easy to maneuver around her large bathroom and studio room, as well as the common areas. She is close to any seating options in these situations, so the lack of a seat on the walker isn’t a problem.

Pros --Nimble to use and maneuver. Has a generous storage pouch built it. There is also a detachable wire basket and tray. Adjustable handle height.

Cons – Not as much stability as the 4 wheeled walker. No seat built in.

Footed “quad” Cane https://www.vivehealth.com/products/carbon-fiber-quad-cane

A cane with four feet is always ready to be used and not falling to the ground etc. This one is lightweight, but also very strong.

Foot safety and care --

Velcro shoes & open toed sandals

Shoes with laces are a tripping hazard. Round those up and donate them. Poorly fitting shoes can contribute to foot pain, infections, etc. That leads to mobility loss. Look for shoes that protect feet and prevent slipping. Old bones are fragile. I learned from Mom's podiatrist that many elderly folks fracture their toes by bumping them while wearing footwear that lacks support and protection. Foot or toe pain should be checked out by a doctor ASAP. 

Replace old shoes with Velcro closure footwear. Mom preferred a style with a single flap vs multiple tabs. Look for shoes with a sturdy sole that supports the foot.

Yibobay Diabetic Shoes https://www.amazon.com/Yibobay-Diabetic-Adjustable-Breathable-Lightweight/dp/B096KVHJLT/ref=

I had to mail order these in several sizes to find the right fit, but it was worth it. Mom loves them.

 Since Mom had a toe injury (ingrown nail) that took months to correct, she needed shoes indoors that gave her stability but also were open toed.

Silverts Sandals –  open toed with Velcro. These are a sturdy option for times when toe pain may need an open-toed shoe. https://www.silverts.com/womens-easy-closure-sandal-for-indoors-outdoors

 These Memory Foam Sandals from the “Collections Etc” catalog are inexpensive, but lack support. They are suitable as slippers, but not for long walks. https://www.collectionsetc.com/products/ultra-lightweight-adjustable-memory-foam-sandals/?color=BLCK&size=XSA&utm_source=google&utm

 

Keep feet clean and dry. Make sure they are moisturized to prevent cracks in skin and nails that can invite infections. Be sure a doctor looks at the elderly persons feet at least once a year. Medicare covers routine podiatrist visits. It’s worth getting your elderly family members to a podiatrist on a regular schedule to handle things like toe nail trims. This basic personal care can become a breeding ground for infections if neglected or relegated to self-care or non-medical services (ie salons). Both of my parents had foot issues that needed attention but their primary care doctor never had them take off their socks – even at annual physical exams! Unacceptable.

Ears need attention too. Age-related hearing issues are common. Be sure your senior has a hearing evaluation by an audiologist. And make sure their primary care doctor examines inside their ears at least once a year. Your loved one may need routine ear irrigation. Regular dental cleanings are also essential. Many older people don't have all their own teeth. You need to know if your loved one has any dentures or partials. Be sure they fit well and are cleaned properly. Check with their dentist. Your senior may need new eyeglasses too. Get a vision exam scheduled as soon as you take over their care. Finding problems in any of these areas early can make all the difference.

Because of my diabetes, I’m very pro-active about foot care. I will always suspect my dad could have lived longer if his non-healing foot wound got earlier attention. Instead, he slapped a band aid on it -- for nearly 2 years! Dad was so healthy otherwise, and he presented so well clinically, his doctor never looked at his bare feet. By the time he showed his non-healing wound to the doctor, it had progressed to skin cancer. That required surgery. And oncologists. I learned about all this too late. Please take these lessons to heart. 

Change socks daily. Be sure they are not binding. Mom loved these “Hugh Ugoli Diabetic ankle socks, seamless, stretchy” socks from Amazon 

Try out different compression socks. There are better ones available now that aren’t the vice grip socks of years ago. Most older people have legs and ankles that swell. Compression socks… and/or elevating their legs so they are higher than their heart for a period of time during the day or at night.. can help reduce swelling.

Viasox Diabetic Socks –these are super stretchy socks that are easy to get on and off. Available in knee length, ankle and compression sock options. There are lots of fun prints as well as solids. https://viasox.com/

Electric foot warmer pad –

Cold extremities are a common problem with the elderly. Mom often has cold feet at the end of the day, even on warm days. The right tool for this job turned out to be a double-sided electric foot warmer. (Any electric heating pad/blanket needs to be used with supervision as elderly people have thin skin that can be damaged.) Mom’s favorite foot warmer pad worked better than traditional heating pad as it has a zipper. You can make it into a pouch to slip both feet into. You can also unzip it and use it to heat a larger area like backs, or shoulders. It took some trial and error to find this item on Amazon “Accelery Double-Sided Heated Foot Warmer” with a tag that reads: “OnKey Electric Technology Heating Pad Model # FT-1616,” now listed as “unavailable” 

Here’s a similar one, but this lacks the zipper and timer on the control:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Electric-Foot-Warmer-Heating-Pad-with-3-Settings-Auto-Shut-Off-and-Detachable-Extra-Long-Cord-Soft-Plush-with-Fuzzy-Interior-by-Bluestone/711560582

Room Safety

Landline phone for hearing impaired

A 911 call from a landline is the fastest way to get help to the right location. Check with local agencies about qualifying for a free or discounted landline phone for the hearing impaired. Hearing/vision loss and other age-related challenges like arthritis can make it a struggle to use even the most basic cell phones. Be confident your loved ones can make and receive phone calls.

Call Button (CallToU transmitter and receiver) https://www.amazon.com/CallToU-Caregiver-Transmitters-Receivers-Attention/dp/B077SYPD5K

One of the best “tips from the trenches” we got from one of mom’s caregivers was to get her a call button. Getting a senior accustomed to using a call button keeps everyone safe. It’s an essential skill for assisted living.

Grabber (The one I like best I got from Diaso – this link has photos and a review) https://www.thestuffsreview.com/2022/07/daiso-all-purpose-grabber.html.

Back injuries or hip/knee pain can prohibit bending over. A “grabber” is a safer way to retrieve objects that fall to the floor.

Motion detector Night Lights

Light in hallways can prevent trip and fall hazards. Especially for nighttime trips to the bathroom. Battery operated “tap lights” can also be handy. Many options of both are online or at hardware and home improvement stores.

Bathroom safety

Shower chair https://www.vivehealth.com/products/shower-chair

Baths and showers are the #1 place where life-changing falls happen. Take shower/bathing safety seriously.

I mailed order this one for the handles, height adjustment choices, and drainage holes in the seat. It’s good, but we still ended up adding a padded shower floor pad for her to sit on while she uses this as the seat is a tiny bit slippery.

Talk with your elder’s doctor/dermatologist about ways to keep fragile older skin well moisturized. Slathering lotion on damp skin right after showering is a good practice for anyone to prevent dry skin issues. Use gentle body wash (Aveeno unscented etc). Bar soap, even Dove, can be drying.

Grab bars

These are essential and need to be installed/attached to studs in the walls. I didn’t have to buy any of these are they were already at Mom’s condo.

Toilet seat support

Handles on the sides of the toilet are safer than a single grab bar on the wall. Finding the right handles was another trial and error discovery. We found this worked best because it used the toilet seat itself (not the floor) as the base for the handles. This product was more stable than other seat-based options we tried. She didn’t like options that raised her higher on the toilet seat as it made her feet dangle. This option lets her use the toilet seat at the traditional height, but gives her support with sturdy handles.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/MOEN-Home-Care-23-25-in-Toilet-Safety-Bar-in-Glacier-DN7015/203933039?source=

If there is back or knee pain involved that can make it difficult to lower down to the traditional toilet seat. There are a range of risers and cushions available. But here’s a twist – I think most of them are designed by and for men. Women wipe in front. The lack of a front opening on many risers and cushions makes this basic self-care hygiene challenging for women. Find options with a front opening when shopping for a woman.

Toilet seat Cushion https://www.vivehealth.com/products/toilet-seat-cushion

Toilet Seat Riser with handles https://www.homedepot.com/p/Glacier-Bay-E-Z-Lock-Raised-Toilet-Seat-With-Adjustable-Armrests-5-in-FGB303GB-THD/312272463?source=

Toileting issues/Home as a healthcare setting

No one wants to think about needing help with personal hygiene care.

Caregivers have to think about it. They may be that help.

If you can’t imagine taking on these tasks – plan ahead now.

Do you know how to find in-home help for these hands-on jobs?

Can you afford this?? – the cost of caregivers that come to your home is mind-blowingly expensive.

Will you and your loved one feel that needing help with toileting is a deciding factor for transitioning to assisted living care? Helping another adult in the shower or at the toilet can put you at risk for injuries. Discuss this with your seniors now. 

If underwear “accidents” are mild/infrequent, your life will be easier if you have already stocked some essential supplies. See a great coupon for Depends or similar products? Use it. Get your elder to try out some different brands and sizes. They will see these products are comfortable, effective, and discreet. It can be good "practice" to wear them overnight in bed, or out for an errand. Sometimes medical tests or health issues will prompt the need for these items on a short-term basis. Use that opportunity.

Wearing disposable underwear and changing them frequently helps prevent UTIs. Fragile skin in personal areas is a high-risk zone for infections. These can be hard to detect until they become severe.

Be sure you have lots of disposable gloves in a range of sizes (a Medium in one brand may need a Large in others). Baby wipes are essential! They serve multiple purposes. Carry them in a ziplock bag to appointments with your elder. The Costco Kirkland ones are always in my car and purse. Disinfecting wipes and/or a spray bottle with 70% isopropyl alcohol are essential supplies for every room when there is healthcare involved. 

Buy waterproof liner covers for mattresses –online or at Target –and start using them now. Do yourself a favor. Spending $20 now may save you from dealing with disposing of a soiled mattress later. I like these “Allerease Ultimate Mattress Protectors” because they block everything: https://www.target.com/p/ultimate-mattress-protector-allerease/-/A-17273320

The Allerese “Perfect Protection” line is also good, and more widely available

https://www.target.com/p/full-perfect-protection-waterproof-mattress-protector-allerease/-/A-78376623?ref=

Your family member may struggle with the reality home is now a healthcare setting. Even if it’s friends and family helping out… it’s more people using restrooms, common areas, and the kitchen. Everyone needs to be practicing good healthcare setting habits -- washing hands, disinfecting surfaces regularly etc. Older people have compromised immune systems. Protect them from common colds/flu and infections. Diligent heathcare setting practices by caregivers help avoid costly and health-compromising hosptial stays for seniors. 

Another struggle your loved ones may have is accepting they need help with caring for their physical body, inspite of how indelicate and embarrsing that may be. Be compassionate. Let them know you understand. They are forever 30 in heart and spirit. But now they have a "vintage" body that needs specialized support and maintenance. You are here to help. Just like they helped with your body when it was very young and needed special care. When adult children are caring for elderly parents, we are all past our "best by" dates. But here we are...making the best of it.

General safety and comfort

Transfer belts & harness 

Avoid injury to elderly person and to caregivers. Try out some transfer belt/harness options before you need them. If you have an emergency and need to move someone who is suddenly not able to move all or part of their body – you will be glad you were prepared. I just mail order a transfer belt, a harness, and a sling. We only needed to use this once, but I was glad to have it.

Here are some options: https://www.vivehealth.com/blogs/resources/patient-transfer-device-aids

Adaptive Clothing

As mobility becomes more limited, simple tasks like dressing can get complicated. Standing on one leg can become impossible due weak knees or hips. Being able to dress yourself safely helps maintain independence without risking balance/falls etc.

These websites feature clothing designed for ease of dressing and undressing with limited mobility.

https://www.buckandbuck.com/

https://www.silverts.com/

https://gerifashions.com/

Dry Erase Boards, Care Guide Binder, Log books

These items became lifesavers. When mom was aging at home with in-home caregivers, that made me her one-person-assisted-living-coordinator: in charge of communication between her caregivers as well as scheduling that care with the caregiver agency. Having systems and standards in place helped everyone. 

Dry Erase board message centers

A dry erase board with magnets on the back is easy to attach to the fridge. This becomes a great place to update meal lists, as well as a central place to list items that need re-supply from the drug or grocery store.

I also made a “housekeeping” dry erase board with list of housekeeping chores. Caregivers who did some of those chores on their shift could write it on the housekeeping board. It was also a place to write down disinfecting jobs that needed to be done with each shift.

Care Guide binder

A large 3-ring binder marked “Care Guide”. This is where I keep detailed instructions on all the care needed for Day Shift, Night Shift, 12-hour shifts for 24 hour care days, PT exercises done at home, Foot care, Meal prep routines; Housekeeping supplement; “bullet points” of FAQ, a photocopy of current Covid vaccination card, and copy of the Advanced Healthcare Directive. You’ll also need a complete list of all medications (with doses and times for delivery); any background medical information (chronic conditions; allergies; past surgeries or hospitalizations); as well as a list of doctors and the pharmacy used.

The Care Guide Binder is a complete and portable record of everything that visiting caregivers… or EMT.. would need in case the primary family contact wasn’t available. Dates on each of the entries there helped everyone know how current the info is, and if there is a newer date on any entry since they last reviewed it.

Log books –

I kept two log books. One had water intake, OTC and Rx doses. This also is where the caregivers listed any activities like walking or social visits.

The other log book had appointments during the day, when home PT was done, when Foot care happened, and notes from the overnight caregivers.

(art by Kate Allan, aka The Latest Kate  https://www.thelatestkate.art/ )

Caregiving is an endurance test. Take care of yourself. Be prepared. Replenish your reserves of courage, patience and grace.

UPDATE 4.20.23

Bonus item to thank you for reading this far! Here's a book I discovered years before I needed it. I re-read it recently, and it's even funnier, and more poignant. This book was put in my hands by one of  my favorite indie booksellers. Yes, Chast's take on the process is a bit dark, but humor always helps. On re-reading it from the perspective of someone who has now been on a journey like this... Chast's was a lot tougher. But she shares insights that are helpful.. and talks about the costs involved across the board.

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can%27t_We_Talk_About_Something_More_Pleasant%3F

Artist Roz Chast is well known for her New Yorker cartoons like these panels...

This link previews some pages from the book...

https://projects.newyorker.com/story/chast-parents/

I also wrote about the book in this post from 2019.

 https://stuartngbooks.blogspot.com/2019/06/7-days-of-books-i-have-loved-day-7.html

Here are some of my favorite pages from the book...