It is helpful for caregivers to:

1. Understand what the elderly person wants and values
2. • Talk to your loved one directly, if possible, and ask what are the things that he/she looks forward to, values, and finds important.
     
   • When your loved one is unable to communicate with you, try to recall what is important to him/her during past interactions with you.
3. Involve and empower the elderly person in the management of his/her medication regimen
4. • Involve your loved one in the consultation and seek his/her opinions or concerns toward the treatment regimens recommended.
   • Listen to and validate your loved one’s struggles in adhering to his/her treatment regimen
   • Affirm his/her efforts in adhering his/her treatment regimen.
5. Provide feedback to doctors regarding the side-effects of the elderly person’s medication regimen
6. • Identify a primary doctor, if possible, to highlight and provide feedback on the concerns and side-effects that your loved one has in adhering to the treatment regimen.
   • If you and your loved one have difficulties identifying a primary doctor, please check with a doctor whose medical discipline will be more appropriate to address the concerns your loved one has.
7. Practise self-care in your caregiving journey

8. Some ways to care for yourself is to:

   • set aside time to rest and do things that you enjoy
   • attend to your own physical health
   • seek help when caregiving becomes overwhelming.

Ref: N18