How To Manage Fatigue

BATHING/GROOMING

• Put all necessary items in one easy-to-reach place
• Organize your bathing area to minimize effort while bathing. For example:
  • Use a shower a shower caddy.
  • Use a long handled sponge to wash your back and feet
  • Use "soap-on-a-rope" so you don't have to bend to pick up dropped soap
    
  • If you shower, a detachable shower head helps avoid leaning and reaching while bathing
    
• Bathe when you have the most energy.
• Avoid very hot or very cold water temperatures
• To dry off:
  • Sit
  • Use a terry cloth robe instead of drying off with a towel

MEALS

Meals can be delivered by family and friends. Meals and deliveries can be coordinated through such websites as MealTrain  where you can also list foods you do and do not like.

DRESSING 

• Get organized.
  • Organize your drawers and closet.
  • Gather everything you will wear together before starting to dress
• Give yourself time to dress so you do not have to rush.
• Sit whenever possible.
• Wear clothes that fasten in the front.
• Wear pants with an elastic waist band.
• Wear slip-on shoes. Use a long handled shoe horn to avoid bending.

HOUSEKEEPING

• Get help, particularly with heavy work. 
  • Keep in mind that family and friends are part of your health care team. Organize their help through such web sites as LotsAHelpingHands.com
  • If you can afford it, consider hiring a cleaning service. If not all the time, at least once in a while to do the heavy work.
• Do as much work as possible sitting down.
• Use both hands when dusting or cleaning windows.
• Do not try to clean the entire residence in one day. Instead, break up the work over the course of a week.
• When vacuuming, move slowly with the cleaner instead of pushing it
• When dusting or cleaning floors, use long handled dusters, dustpans and mops
• Use a mop to clean up spills
• Keep a trash can in every room.
• If possible, store cleaning supplies near where they will be used. For example, bathroom cleaning supplies in the bathroom.

SLEEP

• See the suggestions in our document about sleep by clicking here.

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