When you\u2019re coping with the needs of someone who is hospitalized or convalescing, you may wish you could clone yourself to handle everything on your plate. Take heart\u2014a website can become your personal assistant. What\u2019s more, it won\u2019t cost you a thing.<\/p>\n
When my friend, Missy, was undergoing aggressive cancer treatment, a mutual friend set up a free account at Lotsa Helping Hands<\/a> to coordinate meals, rides and child care for Missy\u2019s husband and family. Other friends logged into the account and, like magic, things fell into place. A calendar page listed the family\u2019s needs\u2014rides to school and sports, doctor appointments, errands, meals\u2014allowing us to choose what dates and times we could help. We could include notes to avoid confusion or duplication (\u201ctuna casserole Thursday was a big hit,\u201d \u201cmust show ID at after-school pickup\u201d).<\/p>\n In addition, Missy\u2019s friends could see updates on her condition and leave messages.<\/strong> Her husband could post useful comments: \u201cDo not ring the doorbell, baby is asleep\u201d or \u201cWheelchair did not fit in Prius trunk.\u201d<\/p>\n My fellow SCF blogger, Flora Davis, used CarePages (now defunct) when her husband was hospitalized, to keep his global family and friends abreast of his condition.<\/p>\n Flora remembers, \u201cI posted messages daily. For his siblings on three continents, that meant they could get an update every 24 hours. Best of all, at a time when I was exhausted and busy every minute, I wasn\u2019t getting nonstop anxious phone calls. The messages they left me on CarePages meant a lot to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Others caregiving sites include Take Them a Meal<\/a>, Caring Bridge<\/a> and Volunteer Spot<\/a>.<\/p>\n Caregiving websites aren\u2019t just for those who are ill. I encourage my mom-to-be friends and those with scheduled elective surgeries to set up calendars ahead of time. It could be a lifesaver for you and your family. If you have used a caregivers website you can recommend, please tell us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When you\u2019re coping with the needs of someone who is hospitalized or convalescing, you may wish you could clone yourself to handle everything on your plate. Take heart\u2014a website can become your personal assistant.<\/p>\n