# PicnicHealth Webinar: Caregiver Tips for Alzheimer’s By The PicnicHealth Community Team Jul 18, 2022 • 3 min read Thank you for joining us for **Caregiver Tips for Alzheimer’s** in partnership with Donna Marentay of New Dawn Dementia Understandings! Click the links below to view the webinar recording and Donna’s handouts. ### Webinar Recording PicnicHealth Webinar: Caregiver Tips for Alzheimer's Click for sound 1:05:04 ### Downloadable Handouts \ Activity Participation Guide **Learn More**](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/621d1905031cff21e84611fa/62d1e2ac1f56220f4289f56d_DEMENTIA%20ACTIVITY%20PARTICIPATION%20GUIDE.pdf) \ Different Types of Dementia **Learn More**](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/621d1905031cff21e84611fa/62d1e2ab6cfc458056e4dce8_Different%20Types%20of%20Dementia.pdf) \ Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs **Learn More**](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/621d1905031cff21e84611fa/62d1e3c8b486e2dc19b12bb7_Maslow%27s%20Hierarchy%20of%20Needs.pdf) \ Suggested Reading **Learn More**](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/621d1905031cff21e84611fa/62d1e2ab663cd1309246c147_Suggested%20Reading.pdf) ## Create a List List the names of all the doctors, hospitals, and other facilities your loved one visits regularly, along with those they have visited in the past. Try to go back as far as you can, striving for at least the last 5-10 years, but do your best. Even if you can’t remember them all, having a strong baseline can help you quickly identify gaps in records. ### Ensure You Have the Appropriate Legal Status It is important to make sure that you are fully empowered to make decisions on behalf of your loved one with Alzheimer’s. Your relationship status with the patient may not be enough to legally give you access to your loved one's medical information. It is a good idea to talk to an expert about securing special legal status, such as Power of Attorney (POA), a legal document that allows an individual to name someone as their decision maker should they no longer be able to make decisions on their own. ### Gather and Organize the Medical Records in One Place It’s important to have all of your loved one’s medical records together in one spot. This makes it much easier for you and your loved one’s physicians to accurately map the patient’s medical journey and more easily share information between doctors. Fortunately, tools exist to make record management and access simple. A free resource like PicnicHealth helps you collect and organize all of this information. PicnicHealth’s intuitive timeline allows you to pinpoint data across the medical history, eliminating your need for keeping heavy binders filled with paper records or keeping track of multiple software portal logins. ### Review the Medical Records to be an Informed Advocate The better you understand your loved one's medical history, the better you can advocate on their behalf. Access and understanding of this information will help you to ask informed questions with physicians. Through regular communication backed by the data in the medical records, you can help your loved one’s care team develop a more successful care plan. ## Tips for Effective Caregiving ### 1. Build a support network. When you’re juggling appointment times and insurance claims, putting a robust support system together might not strike you as the most urgent task. Investing the time to cultivate relationships with people can turn to in times of need will pay dividends. ### 2. Stay organized. The backbone of effective caregiving is organization. Keep medical information, appointment schedules, and medication lists in order. Use a planner or a digital service like PicnicHealth to stay on top of your responsibilities. ### 3. Explore treatments and clinical trials. Stay in the loop about the latest in medical advancements and available resources that could benefit your loved one. These breakthroughs can significantly enhance the quality of care you provide. ### 4. Make time for self-care. Focusing on self-care is essential, as feeling good can make you a better caregiver. Carve out moments in the day to unwind, reset, and stay healthy mentally and physically. ## Learn more about PicnicHealth’s commitment to the Alzheimer’s community. **Tip:** Download or print the poster at the end of this article to review before your next appointment!