Tips and Advice

General Advice

  • Know your rights and what you and your loved ones are entitled to by doing your homework on topics like insurance codes relevant to memory care and long-term coverage.
  • Using a tub transfer bench, which can be purchased from Amazon and checked as luggage on an airplane, is a great way to ensure safe access to the tub during a trip.
  • A transfer chair is a lightweight version of a wheelchair, featuring smaller wheels that make it easier to carry and pack. It can be helpful for navigating small spaces where a full-sized wheelchair is not necessary.
  • Consider reading to your loved ones via FaceTime (or similar technology) if you cannot be there in person.
  • Rental wheelchair ramps, including loaners for a temporary amount of time, may be available in your region.
  • Find out if your employer offers FMLA for intermittent family needs. Work with your supervisor to flex your schedule to accommodate these needs. [Support in terms of pay and official time off may only begin when short-term disability criteria are met, so inquire ahead of time about your employer’s policies.]
  • The risks associated with high cognitive load are particularly evident in older adults. As individuals age, their working memory may become less efficient, leading to an increased cognitive load. This elevated cognitive demand can negatively impact balance in seniors.
  • Always consider your “last-minute travel mental checklist,” which could include a backpack with essential clothing, toiletries, a computer, a phone, a charger, house keys, car keys, your loved one’s house key, medications, and cash.
  • If you are a clinician, consider how the design of your rooms impacts your care. [For example, in exam rooms, a movable computer will help the physician be closer to and maintain better eye contact with the patient.]

Tech Support and Gadgets

Other Services and Resources to Consider

  • The state of Maryland has a program that will provide caregivers with ankle bracelets to track their whereabouts called Project Lifesaver; there may be a similar service in your state.
  • For urgent orthopedic needs consider seeking out a service like OrthoMaryland – essentially an orthopedic practice that can provide x-rays, casts, and urgent evaluations of ortho injuries in an office-like setting.
  • Explore services that will walk or board your cat or dog: Walk the Dog/ZimZim or Rover – are services that will walk or board your dog/cat.
  • Pillpack from Amazon helps with the delivery and sorting of medications – sorted and delivered.
  • Explore Go Go Grandparent which offers rides, groceries, meals  and more for older adults and people with disabilities.
  • Living in the Middle: The Sandwich Generation Webinar and Slides are great resources.  [Available for free until July 2025] .
  • Fun games like Jeopardy Music Trivia on YouTube are good for the brain.

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