Monitoring bowel movements is an important facet of care for those with serious illness. Many medications cause constipation (e.g., opioids), and fluctuations in hunger level, diet, and ability to eat/feed can affect intake and nutrition. Additionally, constipation can cause extreme discomfort and secondary complications (e.g., anal fissures). 

To use: Use chart to track the number and size of bowel movements in a given day. 

Key features:

• Easy to use. Removes demand on memory.

• Increases accuracy of reporting.

For more information about common digestive diseases, visit NIDDK.NIH.gov. Also see Constipation and Diarrhea.

Clients and caregivers can feel overwhelmed by the amount of information provided to them by their healthcare team. A communication log can ensure the patient unit feels included in care planning and like active participants in providing care. 

To use: Use log to track communications with healthcare team. Examples include:

• Questions you want to ask at your next visit.

• Observations made during the week or visit.

• Important instructions from healthcare providers.

• Any comments or additional information you don't want to forget.

Key features:

• Easy to use. Removes demand on memory.

• Improves communication with healthcare team.

For more tips and strategies for client/caregiver communication with their healthcare team, visit CancerCare.org.

Hospices often provide patients with an emergency kit (often called an "E-kit" or "comfort kit") that includes certain types of medications, typically in small quantities, that can be used in the home to quickly treat symptoms and/or prevent symptoms from occurring.

To use: Use instructions to support clients and caregivers in understanding and organizing their medications.

Key features:

• Improves organization and safe management of key medications.

• Improves response time to urgent client symptoms.

• Ensures client/caregivers have clear understanding of the medications provided to them in their E-kit.

For more information and an example E-kit, visit VNSHealth.org.

Tracking medications, including dose and time of day, can provide useful information and help establish an optimal medication routine (among other benefits).

To use: Use log to note when and how much of a medication has been given, as well as any comments about administration or the client's response.** Distribute to clients/caregivers and encourage consistent tracking.

Key features:

• Encourages development of and adherence to a medication schedule and routine.

• Increases accuracy of dosage and timing.

• Increases accuracy of client/caregiver reporting.

For more information about medication management and safety tips, visit HopkinsMedicine.org.

**There are many free medication logs and schedules available online that include such additions as color coding, pictographs, and large print. Work with your clients/caregivers to see if they would benefit from these additions.

Symptoms of serious illness can fluctuate, sometimes rapidly or unexpectedly. Tracking clients' symptoms can help with problem solving for recurring symptoms, figuring out what works (and what doesn't), and ensuring the healthcare team is kept up to date.**

To use: Use log to track clients' symptoms and responses. Encourage clients/caregivers to use anytime a medication is given for symptom management.

Key features:

• Improves symptom tracking accuracy. 

• Provides care team with current, detailed information for improved recommendations and polypharmacy management.

• Engages clients/caregivers in collaborative care planning that is tailored to the individual client's needs.

For more information about symptom tracking, visit UCSFHealth.org.

**Recommend using in tandem with communication log to additionally track healthcare team feedback on symptom tracker, as well as any questions clients/caregivers may have.