Family Caregiving One-on-One
Energy Saving & Conservation Tips for Elder Care
Slow Down, Listen to Your Boby, and Take Matters into Your Own Hands When It Comes to Balance of Activity and Rest
15 Minutes of Activity = 5 Minutes of Rest
- Energy Saving Techniques can enhance the healing process of your body and help you to return to your activities of daily living.
- Adapting your lifestyle and the way your perform your normal activities, in
- order to respect your body's need for rest, can be one of the most effective aspects of your rehabilitation.Energy Conservation Techniques allow you to participate in the activities you really enjoy while maintaining a healthy balance of rest. It's important to learn how to give your body time to Fuel Up.
- Energy Saving Techniques can make your self-care activities and homemaking activites easier when it's time for you to leave the rehabilitation facility.
- Your Occupational Therapist can show you ways to break down tasks into simple steps that will allow you to take advantage of the energy you already have. These steps are meant to help you be more efficient and productive when it comes to accomplishing what you want to do.
Main Energy Saving Techniques are:
Start your day by making a list of activities. Make sure to allow adequate time to complete each task, and schedule rest breaks.
Pay attention to your body and its need to stop and "refuel".
Organization and planning are the keys to successful completion of the activities you want to participate in and the tasks that need to be done.
Make a list of equipment needed (whether it's ingredients, utensils and appliances needed for preparing a meal, the clothing items you wish to wear, or the tools you'll need to do some simple home improvement), and gather them before you event begin to take on the activity.
Clean up after each step of the activity to eliminate and avoid accidents.
- Energy Conservation Techniques are also to help you maximize your safety and independence when it comes to taking care of yourself and doing the things you love.
1 - PLAN AHEAD
Cancel unnecessary jobs.
Arrange equipment and supplies.
Sit when possible to work.
Adjust work heights (adjustable stools)
Avoid holding or carrying (use push carts, slide over counter)
Simplify work methods and make them "habits"
2 - ADJUST THE WORK FOR YOUR
Find your speed - For efficiency, use smoothe motions
Economy of motion - Both hands to dust, slow movement of vacuum once over area instead of rapid, repetitive movements
Let Gravlty Work - Step garbage can, drop bins,
Include rest periods.
Include relaxation - Hurry and worry increase fatigue.
3 - JOINT CARE
Avoid lifting or carrying heavy loads.
Avoid stress and strain to weak joints.
Use correct hand placement - counter-clockwise right hand, clockwise left hand, open fingers, flat-handed to dust.
Respect pain - If longer than 2 hours, then activity is too strenuous.
We've found that our Occupational Therapist (OT) often could help identify activities that cause fatigue, and help minimize the amount of effort expended in order to complete them. If you engage an OT, he or she will work with you on improving your strength and endurance with slow progressions of exercise. Your Occupational Therapist can show you methods to help you be more independent with your self-care and home management activities so you can get on with your job of Living!
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