To make effective use of any set of tools you need to combine them with process.  In the case of caring for aging parents, the process is something you have to repeat over and over.  The situation changes, health conditions like diabetes or cognitive concerns change, needs and desires change, and all of these play in to the decisions about the next course of action.

At My Health Care Manager we have defined, detailed and implemented processes at all levels of service delivery - over 100 in all.  These include detailed flows, processing narratives, measures, entry Evaluation Cycleand exit criteria, responsibility identification, and more.  At the core, however, these processes all revolve around this simple cycle.

If you are caring for a senior, consider adopting a process like this one and implementing changes in the top 3 (or fewer) areas of concern in each iteration.  Clearly, trying to change too many things at once can actually be counterproductive.  Any of us, especially if we're sick, depressed, or struggling with cognitive decline, can only impact a small number or areas at one time.

Understanding that this is a cycle with re-evaluation can help manage the sometimes overwhelmingly long list of things needing attention.