What I mean is where do you get information about medical treatments. Which books do you read, which sites (besides agingcare) do you visit to stay up to date etc.
Sorry for all the questions I have, but I really want to provide the best help I can for my grandfather.
I’m 21 years old and have been taking care of my grandfather for one month.
Before that my grandmother was taking care of him which is not an option any more.
For now I'm working abroad but by the time I come back I will be writing my
bachelorthesis until my graduation in September.
My parents work in shifts so that every time one parent is at home. Our grandfather lives with us (My parents).
As I will be having time until my graduation it is absolutely fine for me to spend more time with my grandfather than my parents.
They are taking care about the rest (groceries, houshold cleaning, cooking etc.)
I also want to let you know that I'm doing some research for my bachelorthesis at the same time (Currently the topic is very broad: "Which difficulties do caregives encounter and how can the IT help them").
Thank you also very much for your supportive words - I know that I won't be able to be there all the time, but for the time being I really want to make the best out of it, after my graduation my parents will have to take over either way.
It is not possible to be a 24/7/365 caregiver without adequate respite and also retain your own sanity. Ain't happening. So while you are learning to provide the best care you can for your loved one, you MUST also be realistic about taking care of you.
You are way too young to put your life on hold for an indefinite period.
I completely forgot to mention the booklets etc. my grandfather received, but I think that there is more for me to learn and therefore I'm looking for me.
I'll look for local groups, that's a really great suggestion.
For now it's mainly me as my parents are working full-time.
Don't overlook the material your grandfather's clinic hands out about his condition.
If there is a local support group for caregivers of people with your grandfather's condition, that be extremely valuable. Often they have a collection of books and booklets that other members have found helpful over the years.
You are really wise to try to learn everything you can about his condition!
What other help and caregiving resources does grandfather have in addition to you?
But to begin, websites from major hospitals (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins, etc) frequently have terrific information. If there is a specific diagnosis, many organizations specific to a diagnosis have educational informaion on their websites. For example: American Diabetes association, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis etc. A visit to a library and a meeting with a reference librarian may benefit you by identifying valuable reading material. I hope this helps you get started.