Caregiver Tutzing

Care for an independently living 84-year-old lady, 60 kg, 160 cm, who moves with the help of a walker or a walking stick. She is mentally alert and oriented, occasionally misplaces items and cannot find them. She is kind, friendly, and has a sense of humor. She suffers from arthritis in her hands and feet, general old-age weakness, significant urinary incontinence, and recurrent urinary tract infections. She uses incontinence pants and pads. She has mild diabetes, so sugar intake needs to be limited. She has hearing difficulties, so it is necessary to speak slowly and louder. It is important to ensure adequate fluid intake and to check every morning if the urine is clear or cloudy. The lady is oriented in time, space, and to persons. She can usually stand up on her own, only rarely needing assistance when getting up. A adjustable bed and a commode chair are available. Only slight assistance is needed when lifting. For showering, she needs to be accompanied upstairs. If needed, she requires help with dressing, personal hygiene, and regular changing of incontinence aids. The caregiver's duties include overall care for the lady and household management as agreed with the family. This includes preparing fresh, preferably organic meals, shopping, cleaning, laundry, and general household care. Every day, it is necessary to ensure she takes psyllium (Flohsamen) to aid bowel movements, regularly monitor fluid intake, provide changes of incontinence aids, oversee medication intake, and prepare it for administration. The caregiver accompanies the lady to important appointments, to pedicures, and drives her to the lake, where they go for walks together. The job also includes dining together, playing board games, such as Ludo, assisting with daily activities, and providing companionship. Night work is not required. Although the lady sleeps poorly, she goes to the toilet independently at night. She usually takes an afternoon rest after lunch. A home nursing service comes to assist with putting on compression stockings. A doctor and a physiotherapist visit the home once a week. A hairdresser comes directly to the home. Relatives live about a 4-hour drive away, near Stuttgart, so they primarily help by phone. Her son visits in person once a month, usually towards the end of the month. Shops are about 2 km away by car or about 15 minutes on foot. Free time is by agreement. A car with automatic transmission is available; the caregiver has a private bathroom.