Remember To Follow Standard Precautions – Wear Gloves

URINE STAIN REMOVAL

Dried stains on Carpet or Upholstered   furniture:

• Apply 1 teaspoon white vinegar mixed with 3 teaspoons warm water. Let dry.
• Mix teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap in 1 cup water. Sponge on sparingly. Let dry.
• Rinse and then repeat step 1 and rinse again.

Wet stain on carpeting

Sprinkle baking soda on the stain.

Let dry, then vacuum.

Cleaning Floors

• Always sweep or vacuum first to remove base dirt and crumbs.
• Use disinfectant if possible. Use the proper amount.
• Change the water when dirty.
• Dispose of by flushing down the toilet. – Do not pour down the kitchen sink!
• Avoid getting floors too wet.
• Wipe dry with a clean cloth if requested.
• Avoid waxing clients’ floors to minimize slipping.

Dusting

• Use clean cloths and appropriate product.
• Remove all items on furniture and dust top.
• Dust sides, legs of furniture, and rungs of chairs.
  • Return all items to their original places.

Cleaning Appliances

• To clean the microwave interior, boil a cup of water in the microwave before you wipe it clean.
• Use Windex type products to clean and shine exteriors of microwaves, stoves, and refrigerators.
• If using an oven cleaner, read instructions thoroughly.
  • Place newspapers on the floor in front of the stove. WEAR GLOVES.
  • Carefully rinse the oven interior and remove all traces of cleaner.

Trash Cans

• Fill with hot, soapy water. Scrub with a long-handled brush.
• Rinse with ammonia or bleach added to the final rinse to eliminate odors.
• Air-dry in the sunshine if possible.

 LAUNDRY TECHNIQUES

Clean clothes are important for good health and for making us feel and look good. You should wash clothes regularly, keeping in mind the care recipient’s routine and wishes, if possible. Make any repairs necessary, such as sewing buttons or hems, or replacing a zipper. This can be done whenever it is needed, but especially before washing them. Bed linens should be changed once a week and whenever soiled. If they are soiled, they should be washed as soon as possible. Assist the care recipient to have laundry that is clean to contribute to your well-being.

Laundry Hints:

• Follow client instructions. Ask what the client prefers.
  • Read labels on items to be laundered.
  • Empty pockets. Close zippers and other fasteners.
  • Remove belts and non-washable ornamentation.
  • Read detergent instructions.

Other Factors to Consider:  Size and age of item, and type of fabric

General Sort/Laundry Instructions	Water Temp/Washer Cycle
Heavily soiled –colorfast cycle	Pre-treat, hot water, regular
Sturdy white -colorfast	Hot water, regular cycle
Non-colorfast – dark colors	Coldwater, regular cycle
Permanent press	Warm water regular cycle
Delicate Items and knits	Warm water, gentle cycle

Pre-treating/Stain Removal: Treat as soon as possible.  Some stains set when washed.

Laundry/Guidelines:

1. Presoak linens and clothing soiled with blood or bodily fluids in cold water. Wash separately.
2. To launder linens, wash in hot water with detergent.
3. Add one cup bleach to linens and white garments.
4. Handle laundry as little as possible to avoid contamination of their.
5. Rinse in cold water rinse
6. Rub gently
7. May respond to pre-treat products like Resolve, Spray ‘n Wash or cold water/detergent solution
8. Or, mix up a pre-wash spray with 1/3 Cup each: water, liquid detergent, and ammonia.
9. Store in a spray bottle with a label noting the contents.

Blood, urine, and chocolate stains:

Other stains:

Caution:

General Washing Guidelines:

• Follow washer’s specific instructions. Do not overload.
• Read detergent instructions for the proper amount.
• To minimize urine odor, use liquid Lysol and fabric softener or carefully use 1/4 to 1/2 cup chlorine bleach in wash water if appropriate for the item.
• Wash shower curtains with 3 or 4 white towels on the warm cycle with detergent and 1/2 cup bleach and add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle. Avoid the Spin cycle. Hang to dry.
• If using fabric softener, pour softener into the dispenser or dilute with water before adding to rinse water.

Do not mix ammonia with bleach. The combination gives off a deadly gas.

 Washing Clothes

1. Using the clothing labels, sort the clothes by:

a)    Color: separate dark from light

b)    Fabric: separate delicate from heavy-duty

c)    Soil: separate very dirty clothes

d)    Dry Clean: separate from washables

1. While sorting, check clothes for spots and stains, then pretreat.
2. Fill the machine with water and detergent (and bleach and fabric softener, when used). Add clothes, making sure not to overload.
3. Move clothing to the dryer. When dry, remove immediately from the dryer to minimize wrinkling.

Drying:

• Separate items.
• Read labels on items.
• Do not overload.

a)    High Setting – Sturdy, shrink-resistant cotton

b)    Medium Setting – Permanent press and linens

c)    Low or Fluff Setting – Delicates

• Keep colorfast clothes separate from non-colorfast to avoid “bleed”.
• Hang air-dry items prone to shrinkage, like wool & some cotton.
• Ensure towels and other sturdy items have adequate drying time.
• Hot items can misleadingly feel dry. Check them carefully.
• Check with the client for preference on items such as polyester slacks or blouses.
• Some prefer brief dryer time on permanent press/medium then put the item on a hanger to air dry.
• Remember to use fabric softener on sheets, if requested.
• Fold items when they are hot to minimize wrinkling.

Ironing:

• Check label/iron instructions for proper temperature setting.
• If in doubt, use the lowest setting or test on an area that won’t show.
• Best results are achieved on slightly damp items.
• For shirts and blouses – iron inside/out collars, cuffs, and facings first, front, back of the shoulder, the lengthwise body of the shirt, sleeves – then finish off collars, cuffs again.
• Iron pile fabrics (velvet, corduroy), dark fabrics, silks, rayon, linens, and wools on the backside to avoid “shine” and retain qualities.
• Do any ironing necessary and return clothes to drawers and closets.

COORDINATION WITH EXTERNAL HOME CARE AGENCIES

With the consent of the patient, the Agency coordinates patient services and shares patient information with outside health care agencies that are providing care and services to the Agency’s patient. Should the patient not agree to such coordination, the refusal will be documented in the patient’s record.

These are agencies frequently coordinating with home care agencies

• Meals on Wheels
• Agency resource lists
• Social worker, social services
• Transportation: American Red Cross, RTD
• Diagnosis specific associations (MS, Cancer )
• Respite care, daycare
• Special libraries
• Churches

MANAGING A BUDGET

As a family caregiver, you must be able to manage money in several different ways. This includes assisting the care recipient with paying bills, balancing a checkbook, and preparing & managing a household budget. You must be able to add and subtract. As the family caregiver, you may need to help the care recipient with writing out bill payments accurately recording deposits and expenses (checks are written) in a check register, and balancing the checkbook. Make sure the care recipient is aware of his/her financial situation when you assist with the balancing. You might have to assist the care recipient in setting up a household budget to follow, within available income. Keep in mind monthly expenses such as rent, utilities (electricity, water, gas), and telephone. There are other expenses to consider: food, clothing, cleaning supplies, personal supplies, insurance, car care and gas, health care, and house maintenance. A budget is a guideline for a person to follow every month and doesn’t really change from month to month. If the care recipient asks you to handle money, for buying groceries, etc., keep the receipts to show them. Return the proper amount of change to the care recipient.