According to the National Family Caregivers Association, more than 50 million Americans provide care for a chronically ill, disabled, or aged family member or friend during any given year. Nearly all of us will face this situation at some point.
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These 20 questions will help you consider key factors as well as accurately and realistically evaluate your loved one’s condition.
Support
![](/getmedia/b7bb9233-56b2-4608-9a29-32b1091939a4/3909_MD_CMYK.jpg)
These 20 questions will help you consider key factors as well as accurately and realistically evaluate your loved one’s condition.
Support
- Will you be the only one providing care for your loved one?
- If you will have help caring for your loved one, does s/he have the names, addresses and emergency phone numbers of the other caregivers (i.e., family, friends, neighbors, home care services, etc.)?
- Does your loved one ever leave the home (i.e., to visit a senior center, for social reasons, to attend church, etc.)? If so, when?
- Do other family members live nearby? Even if they are not providing care, does your loved one spend time with them?
- Does your loved one belong to any social organizations or faith-based groups? If so, does s/he have the names, addresses, and phone numbers of those friends and acquaintances?
- Does your loved one receive any kind of assistance (i.e. financial, medical, personal, etc.)? If so, is it temporary or permanent?
- How does your loved one get around home? Does s/he use a cane, wheelchair, stability bars, walker, etc.? If so, how often does s/he use assistive devices, and for what types of activities?
- Does your loved one have a daily routine? Identify activities that are of particular difficulty (i.e., climbing up stairs, bathing, traveling to outside activities, cooking, cleaning, etc.).
- What kinds of activities and hobbies does your loved one enjoy? What are his/her favorite shows, books, magazines, etc.?
- Does your loved one have special dietary needs that must be taken into consideration? If so, can s/he still go to the grocery store alone? Does s/he need assistance shopping for items to meet those dietary needs?
- Does your loved one have any pets? If so, can s/he provide adequate care for the pet(s)?
- What, if any, medication does your loved one take? Be sure to note all medications and keep a schedule tracking when to take them and how much to take (dosage).
- Does your loved one have any trouble taking medications? If so, how? Be sure to address any challenges s/he may have — or assistance s/he may need — in taking medications.
- Does your loved one have insurance? Does this insurance cover all of his/her needs?
- Does your loved one have any wills or trusts? Would you be able to locate these important documents if needed?
- Where does your loved one live (i.e., house, apartment, condo, city or rural, etc.)?
- Does the size of your loved one’s living quarters match his/her needs (i.e., too big, too small, adequate room to exercise, too big to keep up with daily chores, etc.)?
- Are there any barriers (i.e., stairs, difficult doors, rough walkways, etc.) that make the living situation more difficult? If so, what can be done to alleviate these challenges?
- Are your loved one’s living quarters secure? Does s/he have the ability to evade unwelcomed visitors (i.e., scammers, solicitors, etc.)?
- How far is your loved one from neighbors and/or other people?