Creating The Index Card System

• Starting with medicines, make an index card for each medicine NAME and where it is located.
  • Add a sticky note with the medication TIME.
  • Use paperclips to clip things that happen at the same time together.
  • If a medicine is taken many times a day, make a new card for each time.
• Next, work through special nutrition needs and instructions.
  • If a medicine says "do not take within two hours of dairy" make a new card and time that says 'no dairy' and add a sticky note for the time two hours before that medicine. (Ex. If there is a medicine at 4pm with no dairy, make a sticky note for 2pm and stick it on the 'no dairy' index card.)
  • Make a card for each medicine that needs to be taken with food and clip it to the medicine card.
  • Make a card for each meal.
  • Make a card for food or drink that supports medicine (Ex. If there is a medicine that causes nausea and a popsicle helps, make a 'popsicle' card and clip it to that medicine.)
• Next, work through any equipment that needs attention. You might not know this on day one, but you can always add cards.
  • If there is an external dressing or cover that needs to be changed or laundered, make a card for each action.
  • Add a sticky note with the time. Sometimes clustering these actions with other things is helpful and other times it is cumbersome. Adjust as needed.
• Next, add any other items you need to attend to, like regular vitals checks
  • Make a card for each vital or each session
  • Add a sticky note with the time. Again, sometimes clustering these actions with medicines can limit the number of times you are taking action and/or waking or disturbing the person. Other times, they need to be done separately.

The Basket System

• Create a basket for pills and non-refrigerated medicines.
  • Keep all of the medicines in their labeled containers from the pharmacy.
  • Keep your extra index cards, post-it notes, pen, and clips in here.
• Create a basket EACH for taking vitals, changing dressings, or preparing IV medicines.
  • Ex. if you regularly take vitals, keep your pulse oximeter, blood pressure device, thermometer, etc. in this basket
  • Ex. if you need to change dressings, keep a box of gloves, new dressing materials, a roll of small garbage bags, any wipes you need.
• Create a daytime bedside basket for your person that easily moves with them. Here are some ideas - only include things you don't need to document or restrict
  • A water bottle that is easy for them to use (maybe a straw?)
  • Tissues
  • Chapstick
  • Lotion
  • Mints/gum/lemon drops/ginger chews
  • Snacks if your person can have snacks
  • A phone charger/battery pack
  • A book or notepad if they can manage these things
  • If nausea is a concern, make sure there is an easy to grab container
  • Small things to fiddle with - a comb or nail kit, tactile toys, crossword puzzles or other distractions

Using The Index Card System

The night before:

1. Take 15 minutes to arrange the next day's schedule with the right number of doses, actions, and times.
2. Clip each cluster of actions together with a paper clip.
3. Set your phone alarm with each time that is listed on a paper clip.
4. Prepare your notebook for the next day. At the top, write the date as well as the person's name and date of birth.
5. Take a photo of yesterday's notebook page.

Each day:

1. When your alarm sounds, go for the stack of actions with that time.
2. As you take each action, write down what you did on today's page of the notebook.
3. Place the card and the time behind a card that says "completed" and clip them together. Keep them in order if possible to support organizing tomorrow.